
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with 1,224 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with NNW 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 (Aug 04) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Thurso Beach.
Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. We’ve got a long gap of nothing special to kick things off. From Monday the 3rd through to Thursday the 7th of August, it’s a write-off – small, gutless swells with messy winds or just plain poor conditions. You’d be wasting your time paddling out.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Friday the 7th afternoon. The swell is still small at 3 ft from the W, but the period is a solid 10 seconds, and we’ve got clean cross-off winds. The combined energy is moderate (163). It’s not firing, but it’s a start.
Saturday the 8th morning is where things get interesting. We’ve got a 6 ft W swell with a 9-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW. The energy jumps to a strong 508. It’s listed as marginal, but that’s the best we’ve seen so far.
Now, the standout window is Sunday the 9th. The afternoon is going to be a beast. We’re looking at a 13 ft swell from the WNW with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2817 – that’s very strong. But here’s the catch: the report says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. At over 8 ft, this is strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a washing machine. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it won’t be clean. If you’re a seasoned big-wave charger, go have a look, but everyone else should stay on the beach.
Monday the 10th offers a bit of a comedown. The morning has an 8 ft swell from the NW with clean cross-off winds and light breeze. That’s still a big wave, borderline for experts, but the conditions are much better. The energy is still strong at 854. It’s a solid session for the experienced crew.
After that, it drops off fast. From Tuesday the 11th through to the 16th, we’re back to small, weak, and windy. Saturday the 15th morning has a 4 ft W swell with a 9-second period and clean offshore winds from the S, but the energy is only moderate (215) and the call is “very ordinary.” Not worth getting excited about.
The very end of the forecast, Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th, shows a 6 ft to 5 ft W/NW swell with clean cross-off winds, but the energy is moderate and the conditions are marginal. It’s a long way out, so don’t bank on it.
Water temperature at Thurso Beach is around 56°F, which is normal for this time of year – no surprises there.
So, the best on offer is Sunday the 9th afternoon for the sheer size and power, but only if you’re an expert. For a more manageable session with good conditions, Monday the 10th morning is your pick. The rest of the window is mostly a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ESE on Tue morning, light winds from the ENE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Thu night, fresh winds from the W by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | E 5 | NE 5 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
215 | 140 | 86 | 61 | 62 | 82 | 377 | 341 | 197 | 110 | 20 | 31 | 99 | 503 | 503 | 599 | 1224 | 626 | 599 | 1004 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | 1:46PM4.29m | 1:55AM4.48m | 2:44PM4.17m | 3:01AM4.28m | 3:55PM4.11m | 4:23AM4.15m | 5:15PM4.16m | 5:55AM4.19m | 6:32PM4.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | 7:34AM1.68m | 7:47PM2.10m | 8:27AM1.89m | 8:50PM2.27m | 9:36AM2.09m | 10:15PM2.33m | 11:01AM2.17m | 11:47PM2.18m | 12:22PM2.08m | 1:01AM1.85m | |||||||
— | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | |
— | 9:31 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:16 | |
mm | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | ESE 6 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 5 | W 4 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | NW 13 | NW 11 | — |
215 | 140 | 86 | 61 | 28 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 10 | 56 | 503 | 503 | 16 | 5 | 44 | 512 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 9 | — | W 10 | ESE 6 | E 6 | NE 8 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | NE 10 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | — | — |
8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 31 | 99 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 10 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | W 11 | E 6 | — | NE 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | N 11 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 2 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | NE 5 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | — | SSW 2 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 10 |
1 | 4 | 22 | 94 | 62 | 82 | 377 | 341 | 197 | 110 | — | 1 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 599 | 1224 | 626 | 599 | 1004 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 1 | 178 | 190 | 41 | 94 | 170 | 523 | 295 | 261 | 8 | 28 | 0 | 141 | 21 | 579 | 422 | 389 | 290 | 0 |
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.











