Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Thurso Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s not a classic start. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first real chance to get wet is Tuesday morning, the 28th of July, but it’s nothing to write home about. The surf is there, with a 4ft swell from the NNW, but the wind is a moderate cross-off from the SE at 12 mph, which keeps things clean. The water temp is about average for this time of year. Wave energy is moderate (450). It’s surfable, but you won’t be calling in sick for it.

The real action, and the standout of the whole forecast, is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. That’s when we see a solid 7ft swell from the W, with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is a fresh cross-off from the WSW at 19 mph, keeping the surface clean. That’s a lot of water moving, with strong wave energy (859). This is for experienced surfers only – over 8ft is expert territory, and 7ft is still a handful for beginners. It’s the best quality on offer, but you’ll want to be confident in the paddle. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so keep an eye out.

After that Wednesday morning peak, the surf quality drops off pretty quickly. Wednesday afternoon turns to a messy cross-chop, and Thursday the 30th is a write-off with onshore winds. The rest of that first week and into the start of August is a real mixed bag of poor conditions or very ordinary surf. We get a few clean windows, like Saturday morning the 1st of August (4ft, cross-off wind) and Sunday morning the 2nd of August (8ft, cross-off wind), but the scores are low, meaning the quality just isn’t there.

There’s a gap of several days where it’s just not worth paddling out. The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th of August all offer very small, weak, or poorly conditioned waves. The energy drops right off, with readings down in the double digits.

We finally get a little flicker of hope on Saturday morning, the 8th of August. A 4ft swell from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds, and a gentle cross-off breeze from the WSW at 9 mph. Wave energy is moderate (209). It’s described as “surfable but very ordinary,” which is the best we’ve seen in a while. Then, on Sunday morning, the 9th of August, we get a tiny 2ft swell from the W, but the wind goes glassy, which is a treat. It’s small, but if you’ve got a longboard, that might be a goer.

The final notable mention is Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. A 3ft swell from the N with a long period of 11 seconds, and a gentle cross-off breeze from the WSW. That longer period means better shaped waves, but also longer lulls. It’s nothing special, but more promising than the flat spells we’ve been through.

So, to wrap it up: the only true standout is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. It’s the biggest, cleanest swell of the run. Everything else is a waiting game, with a few ordinary windows that are worth a look if you’re desperate. The forecast can always change, but right now, it’s a pick-and-choose kind of period.

Rusty.

Read more