Thurso Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Beach sea temperature is
13.9°C
0.9° 

Thurso Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thurso Beach surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 3,732 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM. 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 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 31st Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Best Surf 4PM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 4PM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, it’s your boy Rusty here, looking at the Thurso Beach stretch for the next couple of weeks. Grab a coffee, this one takes a bit of a journey.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit of a write-off for a decent paddle. Monday the 31st of August starts with tiny 1ft mush from the west and a 9-second period, but the 3 mph cross-off wind keeps it clean. The afternoon gets a bit more size, up to 3ft, but that 4-second windswell is junk and a 19 mph cross-wind chops it up. Tuesday the 1st of September isn't much better; morning has a clean 2ft W swell with a solid offshore from the SSW at 22 mph, but it’s just too small. That afternoon bumps up to 5ft, but the period is a terrible 6 seconds, and that cross-wind makes it lumpy. We’re looking at a gap of poor to marginal conditions until things start to show a bit of promise.

Wednesday the 2nd of September is where we start to see some real energy. The morning shows a 6ft swell from the NNW with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is already a solid 679 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-onshore, but it’s not ideal. The afternoon is the real standout for the first week: a clean 6ft NW groundswell, period pushing to 10 seconds, and the energy jumps to 688. The wind is a clean 12 mph cross-off from the SE, which is a good sign. This is the best of the early window – clean, solid, and a good size for intermediate surfers. It’s a bit big for beginners at 6ft though.

The 4th of September brings a big change. Early Friday morning we get a 7ft W swell with a long 12-second period, and the energy is 1075 (strong). The wind is a fresh offshore from the SSE, 19 mph, so it’ll be clean. The problem? By Friday afternoon, it’s a monster: 11ft from the west, 12-second period, and the energy is a whopping 3743 (very strong). That is expert-only territory, and with a 22 mph cross-off wind, it’s going to be a beast. Saturday the 5th sees the swell drop to 10ft in the morning, but it’s a shorter 8-second period and a lumpy cross-wind. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a fun paddle.

The middle of the week from the 6th to the 8th is a bit of a letdown. Sunday the 6th has a clean 4ft swell in the morning with a cross-off wind, but the period is only 8 seconds. The afternoon is a bit better with a clean, gentle offshore 3ft swell, but it’s ordinary. The 8th of September is a similar story: a clean 4ft swell with a 7-second period in the afternoon, but nothing to get excited about.

Then we get a spike again on Wednesday the 9th of September. The morning brings an 8ft WNW swell with a 10-second period, and the energy is a strong 1140. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s rideable. The afternoon gets messy with a 19 mph cross-wind, so the morning is the call that day.

The second week from the 10th of September onwards is a bit of a bust. The 10th and 11th are blown out by strong onshore and cross-onshore winds from the NW, and the swell is small and weak. The 12th and 13th are a bit cleaner but the swell is dropping fast, with the 13th seeing only 3ft and 2ft for the day. The 14th of September is a glassy day with a faint 2ft groundswell, and the 15th of September glimmers with a 3ft, 12-second W groundswell and glassy conditions in the morning. That’s a far-off promise, but it’s clean and worth keeping an eye on if the forecast holds.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet for the whole run is Wednesday afternoon the 2nd of September, with that clean 6ft groundswell. The runners-up are the Friday morning (4th) for the big, clean 7ft swell, and the Wednesday morning (9th) for the 8ft swell. The rest is a lot of waiting and watching.

Stay safe, check the tides, and I’ll see you in the water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue morning, calm by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Wed night, near gales from the NW by Fri afternoon).

Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
2
0
0
1
2
!
!
1
0
2
0
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
W
9
1
W
4
1.2
WNW
6
0.7
W
6
1.6
W
6
1.5
WNW
6
1.8
NNW
9
1.8
NNW
10
1.2
N
10
1.1
N
9
0.9
N
9
1.1
W
11
2
W
12
3.5
W
12
4
WNW
8
3
WNW
8
2.5
WNW
8
1.9
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
8
1
W
8
1.4
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
15
33
127
30
170
158
505
640
262
207
125
303
1055
3732
2013
1379
931
579
185
133
434
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
30
WNW
15
S
35
SSW
35
W
25
NW
10
WNW
20
SE
15
S
25
WSW
35
WSW
20
SSW
30
SSE
35
W
30
WNW
30
WNW
35
WNW
10
SSW
25
SSE
15
S
25
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
High Tide
11:13AM4.82m
11:19PM5.06m
11:47AM4.72m
11:55PM4.92m
12:25PM4.57m
00:38AM4.69m
1:11PM4.38m
1:32AM4.40m
2:10PM4.17m
2:47AM4.12m
3:31PM4.04m
4:29AM4.01m
5:06PM4.09m
Low Tide
5:08AM1.12m
5:17PM1.45m
5:43AM1.23m
5:54PM1.57m
6:21AM1.42m
6:34PM1.76m
7:04AM1.70m
7:23PM1.99m
7:57AM2.02m
8:29PM2.21m
9:12AM2.31m
10:04PM2.29m
10:53AM2.41m
11:44PM2.10m
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:11
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:18
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:17
8:15
8:12
8:09
8:07
8:04
8:00
 mm
1
2
6
5
3
1
7
18
1
Temp °C
16
13
13
14
14
11
12
12
14
16
16
12
15
13
12
13
13
12
12
17
17
Feels °C
14
7
8
8
7
5
11
8
11
10
9
8
9
6
5
6
6
9
9
15
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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