Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 3,732 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Thurso East.
The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, with a long quiet spell bookended by a few moments of real potential. The main event, the one to get keen about, is that pulse of groundswell arriving on Wednesday.
Actually, the first few days are a write-off. The surf is flat and onshore from Monday (31st August) right through to Tuesday. There’s nothing to get excited about until mid-week.
The real standout window opens up on Wednesday, 2nd September. That morning kicks off with a building 6ft groundswell from the NNW, with a solid 9-second period. The combined energy is already moderate at 679, but it’s the afternoon that’s the pick. The wind swings offshore from the ESE at 12 mph, cleaning up that 6ft, 10-second NNW swell. The energy jumps to 688 (moderate), and the forecast is for very good surf. This is a classic Thurso East setup – a proper point break, so that longer period (10 seconds) will be grooming out some nice, lined-up waves. It’s an expert-level break, and with the offshore breeze, it’ll be clean. Keep in mind it’s fairly consistent here, but it can get crowded, so expect some company.
Thursday morning (3rd) drops off a bit with a 4ft, 9-second N swell and cross-shore wind, so that window is short-lived.
Friday morning (4th September) brings a bigger 7ft swell from the west at 12 seconds, which is a very long period. The energy is strong at 1075. The wind is cross-off from the SSE at 19 mph, so it’s clean. However, this is a big, powerful groundswell. At 7ft, it’s getting into the territory for experts only. The long period at a point like Thurso East should be excellent, but it will be a heavy, powerful wave.
After that, the wind turns onshore and the swell gets messy for the rest of the first week. We get a brief window on Sunday morning (6th) with a small 4ft, 8-second WNW swell and offshore wind, but the energy is low (197) and the wave state is described as "poor surf conditions."
The second week is generally quiet. There’s a small pulse of energy on Wednesday, 9th September, with a 8ft, 10-second WNW swell, but the wind is onshore, making it lumpy. The energy is strong at 1140, but the conditions are marginal.
The outlook dries up completely after that. There’s a long gap of poor, onshore conditions from the 10th right through to the 14th.
The only other bright spot is far out on Tuesday, 15th September. A 3ft, 12-second groundswell from the west, with glassy conditions and a light SW air. The energy is 299 (low-moderate), but for a point break, that long period with glassy water is a very promising sign. It’s a long way off, so treat it as a promising rumour, not a guarantee.
For the best surf, you’re looking at Wednesday afternoon (2nd September) for the cleanest conditions on that building NW groundswell, or Friday morning (4th) for the biggest, most powerful swell. The glassy conditions on the 15th are a tempting long-range target.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue morning, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Wed night, strong winds from the NW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 4 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 33 | 127 | 30 | 170 | 158 | 505 | 640 | 262 | 207 | 125 | 303 | 1055 | 3732 | 2013 | 1379 | 931 | 579 | 185 | 133 | 434 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 3:31PM4.04m | 4:29AM4.01m | 5:06PM4.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:12AM2.31m | 10:04PM2.29m | 10:53AM2.41m | 11:44PM2.10m | |||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 19 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | W 11 | W 12 | N 8 | — | — | — | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 11 |
12 | 12 | 127 | 30 | 24 | 23 | 505 | 640 | 262 | 207 | 125 | 303 | 1055 | 11 | — | — | — | 579 | 185 | 133 | 434 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | W 10 | NW 6 | SE 5 | N 13 | W 8 | W 8 | N 11 | ESE 5 | — | N 8 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
15 | — | 18 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 80 | 45 | 151 | 3 | — | 66 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 16 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | N 9 | N 6 | W 9 | N 8 | — | N 11 | N 12 | W 8 | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 1 | — | 94 | 3 | 18 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 4 | — | SSW 4 | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | SE 4 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 7 | S 4 | W 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSE 4 |
— | 33 | — | 13 | 170 | 158 | — | — | 32 | 104 | 109 | 132 | 38 | 3732 | 2013 | 1379 | 931 | — | 29 | 9 | 15 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 596 | 0 | 596 | 423 | 72 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 134 | 1 | 17 | 69 | 769 | 596 | 413 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











