Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line.

First up, the water temperature at Thurso Beach is sitting at 57°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – no surprises there.

Now, the honest truth is this is a tough stretch. For the first week and a half, it’s just a mess. From Friday, August 21 all the way through to the Sunday morning of August 30, there’s practically nothing worth paddling out for. That’s a solid nine-day gap of poor surf conditions. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, choppy and lumpy, and the wave energy just isn’t there. A few days like Sunday, August 23 have a combined swell energy of 141 (moderate), but the period is short – 7 to 8 seconds – and the wind is cross, so it’s just messy crumble.

But then, hang on to your board, because Monday, August 24 morning is a real standout. The swell bumps up to 7ft from the WNW with a nice long 11-second period. The combined swell energy jumps right up to 1046 (strong to very strong wave energy). That’s serious groundswell. The wind is a dream – light offshore from the SE. That means clean, lined-up waves at Thurso Beach. This is the best on offer, hands down. It’s a fairly exposed beach, so that WNW energy will wrap in nicely, but with a long period like that, the sets will be bigger, walled-up, and there’ll be plenty of time between them to paddle out. The downside is that at over 7ft, it’s pushing into expert territory – definitely not one for beginners. There’s a session on Monday afternoon too at 6ft, still clean, but the energy drops to 769 (still strong). You’d be mad to miss that morning window.

After Monday’s gift, it fades fast. Tuesday, August 25 has cleaner conditions but the swell drops to 4ft and 3ft, with the energy falling to 232 (moderate). The period is 9-10 seconds, and the wind is cross-offshore, so it’s rideable but nothing special. From Wednesday, August 26 right through to the end of the forecast on September 5, it’s mostly tiny surf with energy values under 100 (weak). The only flicker of life is Saturday, September 5 afternoon when it goes glassy with a 3ft swell from the NNW, but the period is only 6 seconds and the energy is just 70. That’s honest longboard or micro-session territory.

So to sum it up: make a beeline for Monday, August 24 morning. That’s the set. Everything else is a waiting game or a flat spell. Keep the board waxed for that morning, because it might just be the best you’ll see for a while.

Rusty.

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