
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, W swell with 8,584 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period with W 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Beach in the next 16 days are 4.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, but this time in feet and miles for the imperial crew.
So, Thurso Beach is the spot we’re looking at, and it’s a mixed forecast. The water is running about 57°, which is bang on average for this time of year, nothing weird there.
Starting off this Sunday the 6th, it’s flat out small. You’ve got a 3-foot west swell with a short 9-second period, and the energy is weak (210). The wind is a moderate SSE breeze, cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. Not worth suiting up.
Monday the 7th afternoon brings some real size: a solid 8-foot groundswell from the west, with a very long 13-second period and a huge energy reading of 2885. That’s serious power. The wind is cross-off from the SW, so the faces will be clean. But on a beach break, that long period and size means it’s gonna close out and dump. This is only for experts—too big and too straight for anyone else.
Tuesday the 8th keeps the 10-foot size in the morning, with the wind screaming offshore from the SSW at 25 mph. Clean, sculpted waves, but at 10 feet with 12-second period, it’s a beast. Expert-only. By the afternoon, the wind turns onshore from the NNE, and it’s all messy closeouts.
Wednesday the 9th drops to 6 feet from the NW, but the wind is onshore and cross-shore, choppy and ugly. Pass.
Thursday the 10th is small, with 3-foot surf in the morning. Thursday afternoon, though, you get a clean 3-foot west swell with a light offshore wind from the SSW. The energy is low (132), so it’s just a cruisy, ordinary session. Good for a paddle.
Friday the 11th picks up to 7 feet from the west, but a strong cross-shore wind at 19 mph makes it lumpy and messy. No good.
Now, here’s the highlight: Saturday the 12th through Sunday the 13th. Saturday morning delivers a clean 7-foot groundswell from the west-northwest, with a 12-second period and strong energy (1146). The wind is cross-offshore from the SSE, keeping it glassy. That’s your best window for confident intermediates. Sunday it bumps to 10 feet, which is expert-only again.
Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th drop back to 7 feet and 4 feet, with clean but stiff offshore winds. The swell shifts to the north, which isn’t ideal.
Then there’s a lull from Wednesday the 16th for a few days, with nothing over 3 feet and mostly onshore wind.
But Thursday the 17th afternoon is the big one on the chart: a massive 12-foot west swell with a 13-second period and an extreme energy of 4697. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be glassy. But that is way too big for Thurso Beach—only the absolute best will be out. For the rest, it’s a spectator sport.
Friday the 18th is still big at 10 feet, but the wind goes cross-shore, making it choppy.
So, to wrap it up: if you’re experienced, Saturday the 12th morning is the pick of the litter—clean, 7-foot groundswell, good period. Otherwise, sit tight. There’s some serious swell coming, but it’s mostly for the big-wave crew.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, light winds from the NNE by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu night, light winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 13 | W 14 | W 12 | W 11 | NW 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
117 | 68 | 339 | 264 | 1854 | 6783 | 2807 | 1954 | 1092 | 392 | 306 | 108 | 70 | 125 | 210 | 328 | 472 | 293 | 1140 | 1624 | 1965 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:06PM4.09m | 6:11AM4.14m | 6:28PM4.33m | 7:23AM4.42m | 7:29PM4.65m | 8:16AM4.69m | 8:17PM4.95m | 9:00AM4.89m | 9:00PM5.19m | 9:38AM5.00m | 9:38PM5.31m | 10:12AM5.01m | 10:14PM5.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:53AM2.41m | 11:44PM2.10m | 12:19PM2.25m | 00:56AM1.73m | 1:20PM1.99m | 1:50AM1.36m | 2:08PM1.71m | 2:35AM1.05m | 2:50PM1.49m | 3:16AM0.87m | 3:29PM1.34m | 3:55AM0.82m | 4:05PM1.28m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | |
mm | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | SE 7 | W 11 | W 13 | W 14 | W 12 | W 11 | SSE 7 | W 10 | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | SE 5 | W 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 |
117 | 68 | 12 | 85 | 1854 | 6783 | 2807 | 1954 | 5 | 220 | — | 108 | 70 | 125 | 210 | 1 | 33 | 293 | 1140 | 1624 | 1965 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | — | SE 6 | WNW 14 | N 9 | N 9 | SE 5 |
78 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | 32 | 6 | 3 | 4 | — | 1 | 120 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | WNW 7 | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | N 7 | — | — | — | N 10 | — | — | — |
15 | 14 | 5 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SSE 4 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 12 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | NW 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | W 6 | WNW 8 | — | — | SE 3 | — |
15 | 16 | 339 | 264 | 1031 | 87 | 87 | — | 1092 | 392 | 306 | — | 10 | 3 | 9 | 328 | 472 | — | — | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 16 | 25 | 363 | 920 | 618 | 525 | 9 | 593 | 428 | 305 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 595 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










