Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Thurso Beach.

Overall, the 16-day window kicks off with a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid pulse of swell mid-week, but the wind is gonna be a right stubborn bugger, keeping things from being truly mint. There’s a couple of sessions that’ll be worth a paddle, but you’ll have to pick your moments.

Looking at the opening on Tuesday the 28th, we’ve got a 4ft swell from the north with a 9-second period, but it’s a cross-off wind from the SW at 12 mph. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is bang on average for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (379), but the overall picture is a bit “marginal.” It’s clean, but it’s not gonna be one for the books.

The first real standout hits on Wednesday the 29th. The morning session sees a 7ft swell from the west, with a 9-second period. That’s a decent size, pushing into the “too big for beginners” category. The wind is WSW at 19 mph, cross-off, and it’s clean. The combined energy jumps up to a strong 697. This is the best on offer in the early part of the run. The afternoon drops off to 5ft and gets a bit cross and choppy, so the morning is your window.

Thursday the 30th brings a small swell from the NNW (3ft) and the wind swings onshore, making for poor conditions. That’s a no-go.

A little pulse of swell appears on Friday the 31st to Sunday the 2nd of August, with the swell hovering around 3ft to 5ft from the WNW. The wind, however, is a persistent cross or cross-off from the west, keeping it from being really clean. The wave energy is weak to moderate (102 to 382). It’s surfable, but you’ll be battling a bit of a chop.

Now, the next real standout comes in the second week. On Monday the 3rd of August, the morning session sees a 7ft swell from the NNW, with a longer 10-second period. The combined energy is strong (799). The wind is cross from the WNW at 12 mph, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest swell of the whole run. The longer period suggests more energy, but on a beach break like Thurso, it might be a bit straight. Still, for the experienced crew, this is the one to eye up. The afternoon drops to 6ft and gets choppy.

After that, the whole scene goes flat. From Tuesday the 4th of August all the way through to the end of the forecast on Wednesday the 12th of August, we’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, poor surf. The swell drops below 3ft, the period gets short, and the combined energy drops into the weak double digits. The wind is all over the place, but the waves just aren’t there. It’s a proper dead spell.

So, the call is: for the first week, hit the Wednesday morning (29th July) for the biggest, cleanest waves. For the later part, the Monday morning (3rd August) is the one to roll the dice on, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the charts.

Rusty.

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