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Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with 1,146 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period with W 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, gather round. Rusty here with a look at what's coming down the line for us. Straight up, this isn't a week for the faint-hearted or the impatient. There's a long stretch of messy, onshore wind and blown-out conditions that'll test your love for the sport. But don't write it off entirely, because there's a single, proper window of proper groundswell that's worth holding out for.
The first few days, from Wednesday the 19th through to Sunday the 23rd, are pretty much a write-off. We've got a persistent run of moderate to fresh onshore and cross-onshore winds from the north and west, with swell heights up to 6ft but with a short, weak period. The combined energy is low, and it's all lumpy, choppy, and onshore. Not worth paddling for.
Then, we get to Monday the 24th of August. That's the one. The standout. Thurso East (Scotland) wakes up to a clean, excellent swell. The wind goes light as a feather – glassy in the afternoon – and we've got a solid 7ft of groundswell rolling in from the west-northwest with a long 11-second period. The combined energy is massive, which is powerful. This is a serious wave. It's a point break, so that long period will stack up nicely, but at that size it's serious stuff – expert territory only. The water temp is about average for the time of year. This is the one to circle.
After that high, it drops off quickly. The 25th of August sees a clean offshore wind from the southeast, but the swell drops to 4ft, and the energy is much lower. It's a smaller, cleaner option, but nothing special. The rest of the window from the 26th into the first few days of September is a mess of small, weak swells, onshore winds, and rain. There's a brief flicker of hope on Sunday the 30th of August with a long 12-second period and a clean 3ft swell, but the wind is cross-shore or cross-off, and the energy is low. It's a marginal option at best.
So, the big picture: there's a long gap of poor surf from the 19th to the 23rd, then one excellent, powerful day on the 24th for experts only, followed by a long stretch of mostly poor or ordinary conditions. If you're keen, keep an eye on the 24th, but go in with your eyes open.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue night, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat morning, light winds from the ESE by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 10 | N 7 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 | N 9 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 387 | 257 | 134 | 194 | 280 | 218 | 165 | 164 | 67 | 126 | 85 | 66 | 150 | 80 | 344 | 1080 | 1027 | 563 | 313 | 125 | 87 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | 3:54PM3.84m | 4:38AM3.72m | 5:18PM3.86m | 6:14AM3.76m | 6:34PM4.01m | 7:22AM3.94m | 7:29PM4.24m | 8:08AM4.17m | 8:10PM4.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | 9:29AM2.54m | 10:25PM2.60m | 11:03AM2.65m | 00:01AM2.49m | 12:23PM2.55m | 1:05AM2.25m | 1:18PM2.35m | 1:49AM1.97m | 1:59PM2.11m | 2:26AM1.71m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | N 9 | N 9 | N 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 387 | 257 | 123 | 71 | 46 | 25 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 126 | 56 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 344 | 1080 | 1027 | 563 | 313 | 125 | 87 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 4 | — | NE 8 | — | NE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | N 7 | — | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | WNW 11 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | 15 | — | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 13 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | 20 | 16 | 91 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | — | — | NW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 9 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | SE 2 | SE 3 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 45 | 53 | 134 | 194 | 280 | 218 | 165 | 164 | 67 | 11 | 85 | 66 | 150 | 80 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 37 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 74 | 347 | 364 | 585 | 757 | 235 | 286 | 255 | 95 | 218 | 255 | 29 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 8 | 0 |
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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