Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 11s period, WNW swell with 989 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thurso Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Beach in the next 16 days are 2.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Thurso Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a pretty grim start. The good news is, there's a bit of a pulse coming, but you'll have to be patient. The first real glimmer of something surfable doesn't show up until Monday the 24th of August. That's a fair wait with nothing to recommend.
Monday, August 24th is where it gets interesting. We've got a nice little groundswell building from the WNW, pushing in at 6 to 7 ft with a solid 11-second period. That longer period means proper energy, and the combined energy is a solid 973 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a dream – light SE, cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is your standout. For a beginner-friendly break, this is a great window of clean, manageable waves. The water's sitting at 56°, which is about average for the time of year, so not a shock to the system.
Tuesday, August 25th still has a bit of size, with a 4 ft W swell and a good 11-second period, but the wind picks up to a fresh 19 mph from the SE. It's still cross-off, so it'll be clean, but that wind will make it a bit lumpy and less inviting. The energy has dropped to 317 (moderate wave energy). It's surfable, but not as good as Monday.
After that, things go pretty flat and messy. From Wednesday, August 26th right through to Thursday, September 3rd, we're looking at a run of poor conditions. The swell drops right off – we're talking 1 ft to 3 ft at best – and the wind swings around, often bringing onshore or strong cross-shore chop. There's a couple of days with clean cross-off winds, but the swell is just too weak to bother with. The combined energy drops into the double digits and low hundreds, which is pretty weak. This is a solid stretch of flat, messy water.
Then, on Friday, September 4th, we get a second chance. The morning looks promising with a 4 ft W swell and a long 11-second period, and the wind is light and cross-offshore from the ESE. The combined energy is back up to 420 (moderate wave energy). The afternoon brings a bit more size at 5 ft with a 12-second period and 534 energy, but the wind is stronger. The morning session is the one to target here. This is a distant second standout, but it's a good one after the long flat spell.
Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th are a letdown again, with small swell and onshore or moderate cross-onshore winds. Monday, September 7th has a clean 3 ft W swell with a strong offshore S wind, which is a beautiful combination for clean waves, but the swell is small, and the energy is only 179. It's a clean, glassy session for a longboard.
So, to wrap it up: the best bet is the Monday the 24th of August morning for a solid, clean, beginner-friendly swell. The second best is the Friday the 4th of September morning. Other than that, it's a waiting game with a lot of flat, choppy days in between.
Stay stoked, and I'll see you out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the SE by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Wed night, strong winds from the ENE by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 11 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | E 4 | W 8 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | NNW 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
77 | 123 | 452 | 973 | 763 | 562 | 317 | 137 | 69 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 70 | 59 | 27 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 169 | 925 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:34PM4.01m | 7:22AM3.94m | 7:29PM4.24m | 8:08AM4.17m | 8:10PM4.48m | 8:43AM4.38m | 8:45PM4.70m | 9:14AM4.57m | 9:16PM4.89m | 9:44AM4.72m | 9:46PM5.03m | 10:13AM4.81m | 10:16PM5.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:23PM2.55m | 1:05AM2.25m | 1:18PM2.35m | 1:49AM1.97m | 1:59PM2.11m | 2:26AM1.71m | 2:35PM1.88m | 2:59AM1.48m | 3:08PM1.68m | 3:31AM1.30m | 3:40PM1.52m | 4:03AM1.17m | 4:11PM1.43m | ||||||||
5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:23 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | 10 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 11 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | N 6 | E 9 | E 8 | N 7 | NNW 8 | E 6 |
26 | 123 | 452 | 973 | 763 | 562 | 317 | 137 | 69 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 70 | 59 | 23 | 7 | 130 | 52 | 21 | 169 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | W 8 | N 6 | N 6 | E 8 | E 7 | SE 5 |
6 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | — | — | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | N 8 |
77 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 16 | 27 | 147 | — | — | — | — | 925 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 41 | 1 | 41 | 183 | 16 | 9 | 198 | 294 | 180 | 285 | 315 | 191 | 94 | 94 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thurso Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thurso Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thurso Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thurso Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Thurso Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Thurso Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Scotland - North Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Thurso Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Scrabster which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Scotland - North Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Wick which is 31 km (19 miles) away, Kirkwall and Lossiemouth.











