Thurso East Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. For the next 16 days, Thurso East is the only break on the radar, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, wind-affected surf before a couple of standout windows that could be worth the wait. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The week starts off rough. From Thursday 20th August through to Sunday 23rd August, it’s not great. Winds are howling from the north and northwest at 19 mph, smashing the swell into a cross-onshore mess. Wave heights are around 5 ft to 6 ft, but with a short, weak period of 6-7 seconds and combined swell energy sitting between 287 and 337, it’s just lumpy and poor. Over the weekend, conditions drop off further – Saturday 22nd has pathetic 2 ft to 2 ft waves with a period of 8-9 seconds, and the energy is below 100. Sunday 23rd shows a little more bump, but still nothing to get excited about.

Then, Monday 24th August is the real standout. The morning brings a clean 7 ft swell from the west-northwest, with a proper 11-second period and a combined energy of 1081. That’s a solid groundswell, packing a punch. The wind is light from the east-southeast, so it’s cross-offshore and clean. This is expert territory – waves over 8 ft can be too much for beginners, and at 7 ft, it’s still a serious session. The long period means the waves will have good shape, but at a point break like Thurso East, it’ll set up nicely. The afternoon stays clean with 7 ft, though the wind picks up a bit. Expect crowds – it’s a spot that’s often surfed, but for good reason.

After that, the surf fades fast. Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th are small and weak, with 2 ft to 3 ft waves and offshore winds, but the energy is low and the period drops. From Thursday 27th through to Monday 31st August, it’s a real lull. Most days show 1.0 ft to 2 ft with combined energy in the 20s and 30s – that’s barely a ripple. A few sessions are clean, but the ocean is just flat.

Now, looking into the first week of September, there’s another promising pulse. Tuesday 1st September brings a 7 ft swell from the north-northwest, combined energy of 510, and light offshore winds from the southeast. The period is only 7 seconds, so it’s a short-period windswell, but it’ll be clean and punchy. The morning and afternoon both look good for experienced surfers. Wednesday 2nd September morning is even bigger – 8 ft from the northwest, with an 8-second period and energy of 746, with light winds. That’s a powerful, clean setup. The afternoon turns sloppy, so get in early. This is a long-range call, so it’s less certain, but it’s got real potential.

The last few days, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September, drop back to small, messy conditions with strong onshore winds.

Overall, the best bet is Monday 24th August for the real quality, and keep an eye on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd September for another solid window. The gaps in between are long and quiet, but when it comes, it’ll be worth it.

Rusty

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