Thurso Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 14 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Beach sea temperature is
13.0° C
0.5° 

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 14 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period, WNW swell with 217 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. 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 0.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 15th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 15th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 17th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what’s happening for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, I’m gonna level with you – this is a tough one. The forecast for Thurso Beach is a real mixed bag, and for the first ten days or so, it’s a proper grind. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions, with a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind and short-period, choppy swell. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is just about average for this time of year, so nothin’ to write home about there.

The first real standout, and the only one I’d get excited about, is way out there on Friday the 24th of July. We’ve got a solid pulse of swell rollin’ in, with wave heights around 5 ft out of the West. The energy is strong, clocking in at (633), and the period is a decent 12 seconds, so there’s some proper grunt behind it. The wind is a clean, cross-off breeze from the Southeast, which is a major positive because it’ll keep the face lined up. This is the best window on offer, but it’s still a “marginal” call for a beginner-friendly spot like this; 5 ft is pushing the limits for learners. The following morning on Saturday the 25th is also worth a look, with similar 5 ft West swell and clean cross-off wind, but the energy drops a notch (552). It’s a promising run of days, but it’s nearly two weeks out, so keep an eye on it.

Before that, we’ve got a real desert. From the 14th right through to the 24th, it’s mostly small, messy, and wind-affected. The swell is tiny, usually under 3 ft, and the wind is all over the place – mostly cross-on or onshore from the North and Northwest. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 16th of July with glassy conditions, but it’s only 1 ft of swell, so it’s barely a ripple. Not worth paddlin’ out for.

After the 25th, it drops off again. The 26th through the 29th sees a return to small, clean but weak swell from the West, with energy readings in the 100-200 range. The wind goes light and cross-off, which is nice, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. The 29th has a rare moment of glassy conditions and offshore wind, but again, it’s only 2 ft. You might get a fun little knee-high wave, but it’s not a session to plan a trip around.

So, bottom line: the 24th and 25th of July are your best bet for something with a bit of push. The rest is a lean spell where you’d be better off waitin’ for the next forecast.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tue
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
WNW
11
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
W
9
0.3
WNW
12
0.9
WNW
11
0.8
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
9
0.7
WNW
9
1.1
NW
8
1.4
NW
6
1
WNW
7
0.8
WNW
7
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.9
WNW
7
0.9
WNW
7
1
WNW
7
1
WNW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
198
127
64
40
26
27
26
217
128
113
80
159
149
99
59
65
58
68
73
88
108
Wind (km/h)
20
ESE
15
SE
15
SE
20
SE
10
SSE
5
NNE
10
NE
10
NNW
20
NW
30
NW
25
NW
30
NNW
25
NNW
20
NW
25
WNW
20
WSW
25
WNW
20
NW
15
NW
20
WNW
20
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
High Tide
9:27PM5.10m
10:07AM4.91m
10:14PM5.21m
10:57AM4.92m
10:59PM5.25m
11:45AM4.85m
11:44PM5.19m
12:31PM4.70m
00:29AM5.05m
1:16PM4.50m
1:14AM4.84m
2:04PM4.29m
2:03AM4.58m
Low Tide
3:47AM0.99m
4:03PM1.40m
4:34AM0.87m
4:47PM1.44m
5:20AM0.88m
5:31PM1.54m
6:05AM1.00m
6:14PM1.70m
6:51AM1.22m
6:58PM1.91m
7:38AM1.51m
7:46PM2.13m
8:29AM1.81m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:28
4:30
4:31
4:33
4:35
4:37
4:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:10
10:08
10:07
10:06
10:05
10:02
10:00
9:59
 mm
1
Temp °C
14
16
20
21
19
19
19
15
13
13
12
11
11
10
14
13
13
13
14
12
12
Feels °C
11
13
17
18
16
18
17
13
9
8
7
6
6
5
8
9
8
9
11
10
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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