Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, you’re looking at Thurso Beach and to be honest, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some proper swell on the horizon, but the wind is going to be a real pain in the backside for a lot of it. There’s a fair bit of chop and cross-shore nonsense to deal with before we get to anything resembling a clean session.

Let’s start with the first few days. Tuesday the 1st is a write-off – 7ft of cross-shore, short-period windswell coming from the west with a weak 325 combined energy. It’s just lumpy and messy. Wednesday the 2nd is a bit bigger, pushing 8ft from the NNW with a better period of 10-11 seconds, and the combined energy jumps right up to 1162-1367. But the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s choppy and not worth paddling out for. Thursday the 3rd drops off a bit, down to 3-4ft, and the wind turns cross-offshore, leaving it clean. But the energy is weak (around 249-262) and the swell is small, so it’s a flat, clean nothing.

Then we get into some real grunt. Friday the 4th kicks off with a 7ft west swell at 11 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 1042, but it’s still cross-offshore and the morning is cloudy. The afternoon gets nasty though – 10ft from the west, 12 seconds, and a massive 2513 combined energy, but a strong cross-shore wind makes it an absolute washing machine. Saturday the 5th is similar, with 10ft and 8ft swells, but cross-shore winds ruin it. Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th are cleaner but small, with 3-6ft of swell, the energy is weak to moderate, and the conditions are just not worth getting excited about.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting for the experienced surfers. On Tuesday the 8th, the swell is pumping – 12ft to 13ft from the west with a 10-second period, and combined energy is through the roof at 2162-3019. The wind is offshore from the southeast, and the tide is favorable. But I have to tell you, this is too big for this break. That’s a serious, expert-only wave. The same goes for Wednesday the 9th, with 10ft to 12ft and onshore winds from the north. It’s powerful, but it’s not friendly.

We get a bit of a lull from the 10th to the 11th, with 6ft to 10ft of messy, cross-onshore swell. But then, keep your eyes on Saturday the 12th. That morning, we’ve got a 7ft groundswell from the NNW at 11 seconds, combined energy of 1056, and the wind is dead glassy. That’s a standout. The waves will be clean, the sets will have proper shape, and it’s the best looking window in the whole run. The afternoon is a bit smaller with a light cross-onshore, so grab the morning.

Sunday the 13th is okay, with 3-4ft of clean glassy swell in the morning, but the energy is weak (331). After that, it tails off. From Monday the 14th onwards, the surf is tiny. 1ft to 4ft, weak energy, and nothing worth the drive. The water is sitting at 57°F, which is about 1°F warmer than average for this time of year, so it’s not a shock to the system.

Overall, the best on offer is the glassy morning of Saturday the 12th. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and lined up. If you’re an expert, the 8th and 9th have the power, but it’s a serious beast. For the rest of the time, you’re fighting the wind or waiting for scraps.

Rusty.

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