Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with 4,063 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s 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 (Aug 31) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
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 shaping up for Thurso Beach.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a rough start. Saturday and Sunday are looking pretty grim, with poor surf conditions and onshore winds. The water temp is sitting at 57°F which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. Tuesday afternoon kicks up a massive 13ft west swell, but with a near gale cross-shore wind, it’s gonna be a washing machine out there—more of a kite session than a paddle session. That’s a non-starter for us.
The first real glimmer of hope comes early on Wednesday the 2nd of September. We’ve got a 8ft swell from the NNW with a 10-second period and a gentle breeze cleaning it up. The combined energy is moderate (1055), and while it’s labelled marginal, it’s the first time the wind is playing nice. That Wednesday morning window is your best early bet, but it’s not a standout.
Now, hold onto your leash. The real standout is Friday the 4th of September morning. We’re looking at a solid 10ft of west swell with a long 12-second period, and the wind is absolutely glassy—slight air, cross-off shore. The combined energy is strong at 2819, and this is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The water is still cool, but for a morning session, this is as good as it gets in the forecast. Keep in mind, with a 10ft swell and a long period, this will be a powerful, clean groundswell that will hold up well at Thurso. It’s a big one, so only for the crew who know what they’re doing.
The second week gets a bit messy. There’s a huge pulse on Monday the 7th of September with 20ft from the WNW, but the wind is cross-on and choppy, and the swell is simply too big for this break. Tuesday the 8th of September is similar—big, clean, but too big. Thursday the 10th of September afternoon offers a bit of relief: a 5ft west swell, glassy conditions, and a score that suggests decent surf. That’s a nice little window for a relaxed session after the chaos.
After that, the forecast gets a bit wild again. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of September see big west and NW swells, but again, it’s too big for the break. The final days of the outlook tail off into small, weak surf with poor conditions.
So to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off until Wednesday morning. The standout is absolutely Friday the 4th of September morning—big, clean, powerful, and only for the experienced. The second week is a mixed bag of huge, unmanageable swell and a few glassy but smaller windows. Keep your eyes on that Friday.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the W on Tue afternoon, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | W 9 | W 4 | W 7 | NW 7 | W 9 | NW 8 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | W 8 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 42 | 117 | 142 | 57 | 43 | 21 | 14 | 30 | 181 | 38 | 2942 | 602 | 983 | 653 | 426 | 234 | 680 | 4059 | 2762 | 2668 | 1113 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:13AM4.81m | 10:16PM5.11m | 10:42AM4.84m | 10:47PM5.13m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:11PM1.43m | 4:35AM1.10m | 4:44PM1.40m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | W 7 | NW 7 | — | N 8 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | W 12 | N 9 | W 12 |
| kJ | 35 | 17 | 142 | 57 | 43 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 181 | 38 | — | 195 | 983 | 653 | 426 | 234 | 154 | 85 | 2762 | 37 | 1113 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | ESE 4 | — | W 10 | W 6 | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SE 5 | W 16 | — | N 9 | NW 11 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | 18 | 25 | — | — | 69 | 33 | 20 | 1 | 78 | — | 57 | 5 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | — | W 6 | W 8 | W 9 | N 9 | N 6 | W 9 | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | ESE 5 | N 10 | W 16 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 26 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 20 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | — | W 4 | — | S 4 | W 9 | NW 8 | — | SE 4 | SSW 3 | WSW 5 | W 8 | W 13 | S 4 | W 12 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 42 | 117 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 9 | — | 30 | — | 35 | 2942 | 602 | — | 20 | 4 | 112 | 680 | 4059 | 27 | 2668 | 497 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 165 | 94 | 1 | 9 | 41 | 33 | 359 | 595 | 0 | 719 | 422 | 71 | 1 | 41 | 0 | 755 | 617 | 664 | 0 | 170 | 8 |
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.
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