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Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, W swell with 333 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with N 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso East in the next 16 days are 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the scoop on the local surf scene. It’s been a bit of a rough patch, and honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking more like a waiting game than a full-on surf session.
Forget about scoring any good waves for the first week or so. The conditions are just plain messy. Right now, on August 15th, we’ve got a 4ft swell from the west but it’s blasted by a 16 mph cross-onshore wind making it choppy as all hell. That energy reads as weak, just 129. It’s a no-go, and it doesn’t really get any better through the weekend, with more cross-onshore wind and lumpy conditions. We’re looking at about 12 days of pretty grim prospects before things start to look up.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday, August 19th. It’s not a classic, but there’s a noticeable improvement. We get a 3ft swell from the west with a period of 9 seconds, producing moderate wave energy of 152. The wind swings offshore out of the southeast at just 3 mph, cleaning things right up. It’s “surfable” but ordinary. The next day, Tuesday the 20th, is the best of a bad bunch with a 3ft west swell, 10-second period (energy of 193), and a light east cross-offshore breeze. Still just ordinary, but at least it’s clean.
After that, we’re back into a messy mix of onshore and cross-onshore winds right up until the end of the month. The standout, and the only real highlight, is looking like Thursday, August 27th. This is the day to circle on the calendar. We get a clean 3ft north swell with a 9-second period (energy of 144), but the key is the wind: it’s glassy, a light 3 mph from the SSW. For Thurso East, a north swell is close to optimum, and glassy conditions are a major positive.
Considering the whole 16-day window, Thursday, August 27th at Thurso East is the only solid option. It’s a north swell, right out of the optimum direction for this expert point break, and with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean. Water temp is at 56°F, which is exactly average for this time of year, so don’t expect any unusual warmth. Just keep in mind, this is a long-range call, so it’s promising but not a guarantee. The waiting game begins.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 6 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 7 | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 105 | 270 | 270 | 187 | 91 | 40 | 38 | 41 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 15 | 140 | 181 | 290 | 279 | 184 | 86 | 104 | 113 | 133 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:18AM4.92m | 11:19PM5.28m | 11:55AM4.77m | 11:57PM5.10m | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 1:10PM4.35m | 1:17AM4.51m | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | 3:54PM3.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:07PM1.40m | 5:37AM0.98m | 5:45PM1.53m | 6:16AM1.25m | 6:23PM1.74m | 6:55AM1.57m | 7:03PM1.99m | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | 9:29AM2.54m | 10:25PM2.60m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:45 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 24 | 23 | 12 | 26 | 91 | 36 | 38 | 39 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 15 | 140 | 181 | 290 | 279 | 184 | 80 | 22 | 113 | 133 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | ESE 5 | W 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | — | NE 5 | — | NE 4 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 11 | 42 | 40 | 13 | 41 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 21 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | W 5 | W 8 | W 9 | — | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | W 4 | — | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NW 5 | NE 3 |
| kJ | 105 | 270 | 270 | 187 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 28 | — | 13 | — | — | — | 33 | 65 | 86 | 104 | 6 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 596 | 769 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 42 | 17 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 74 | 769 | 215 | 215 | 95 | 95 |
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.
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