
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, W swell with 242 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thurso East this week:
The surf forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso East in the next 16 days are 1.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s get into it. I’m Rusty, and I’ve got the goods on Thurso East for the next couple of weeks.
First up, the water temp is around 55°, pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
Right now, the outlook kicks off on Saturday afternoon, July 11th, with a clean 4 ft swell out of the W, period at a decent 9 seconds. The wind is a light cross-off from the ENE at 6 mph, so conditions are looking clean. The combined energy is moderate at 204, and honestly, this is your best bet for a while—a proper standout. This is a classic expert point break that’s fairly consistent, but expect crowds sometimes. The swell direction from the W is right on the money for its optimum from NNW.
Sunday morning, July 12th, drops off quick: 2 ft from the WNW, period 8 seconds, and only 70 energy. It’s clean with light cross-off wind, but the size is tiny. Afternoon is even smaller, 2 ft, and not worth paddling out for. Monday the 13th stays small with the same 2 ft waves, clean mornings but drop kicking to poor by the afternoon.
Tuesday the 14th sees a little pulse: morning has 3 ft from the WNW, period 10 seconds, with an offshore ESE breeze at 9 mph, moderate energy at 217. Conditions are clean and lined up. Afternoon bumps to 3 ft from the W, period 11 seconds, moderate offshore wind, and 242 energy. Still clean, but it’s only really surfable, not amazing.
Then we hit a proper dry spell. From Wednesday the 15th right through to Saturday the 25th of July, it’s mostly tiny junk—under 2 ft, short period, and often ruined by onshore or cross-on winds. There’s a couple of clean mornings with 2 ft to 2 ft in there, but nothing you’d get out of bed for. The combined energy stays low, often under 100. On the 23rd a sloppy 4 ft shows up, but it’s from the WNW with a pathetic 5-second period—just drifty and weak. Kite surfers might find something on the 24th when it hits 6 ft and 7 ft from the WNW, but with strong cross-onshore winds around 25-28 mph, it’s messy and blown out for a paddle board.
The only other flicker of hope is Sunday the 26th of July. Morning has 3 ft from the WNW with glassy conditions and a NW breeze at 3 mph, energy at 120. It’s clean but small, and the afternoon has a clean cross-off, same size. Still, nothing to write home about.
So, the standout is Saturday the 11th. That’s your one and only real call. After that, a gap of about two weeks of flat or poor conditions. Long-range stuff on the 26th is promising but too far out to count on.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
203 | 129 | 70 | 43 | 31 | 51 | 47 | 28 | 132 | 242 | 127 | 64 | 39 | 25 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:43PM4.48m | 7:09AM4.50m | 7:42PM4.70m | 8:15AM4.66m | 8:36PM4.92m | 9:14AM4.82m | 9:27PM5.10m | 10:07AM4.91m | 10:14PM5.21m | 10:57AM4.92m | 10:59PM5.25m | 11:45AM4.85m | 11:44PM5.19m | 12:31PM4.70m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:08AM1.85m | 1:33PM1.67m | 2:06AM1.53m | 2:27PM1.53m | 2:58AM1.22m | 3:16PM1.44m | 3:47AM0.99m | 4:03PM1.40m | 4:34AM0.87m | 4:47PM1.44m | 5:20AM0.88m | 5:31PM1.54m | 6:05AM1.00m | ||||||||
— | — | 4:22 | — | — | 4:24 | — | — | 4:26 | — | — | 4:28 | — | — | 4:30 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | |
— | 10:15 | — | — | 10:14 | — | — | 10:12 | — | — | 10:10 | — | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:06 | 10:05 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 21 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SE 4 | W 8 |
203 | 129 | 70 | 43 | 31 | 51 | 47 | 28 | 132 | 242 | 127 | 64 | 39 | 25 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NE 7 | E 7 | NW 6 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | WNW 9 | W 12 | — | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | N 9 | SE 4 | N 8 | W 8 | SE 4 |
1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 78 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 21 | — | W 14 | W 19 | — | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | — | N 8 | N 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 15 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 7 | — | — | — | E 5 | ESE 2 | SE 2 | SE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | — | ESE 2 | SE 5 | — |
— | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | 1 | 10 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 170 | 0 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 184 | 375 | 375 | 656 | 840 | 840 | 840 | 1114 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thurso East Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thurso East provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thurso East can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thurso East 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 East) 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 East 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 East, 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 and Kirkwall, 52 km (32 miles) away.











