
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, WNW swell with 5,168 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. 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 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get the picture, mate. Rusty here.
First off, there’s a big dry spell to start. The early days are all blown out junk and rain. The first real chance of a wave is on Saturday the 12th.
This break is a serious, expert-only reef, so no beginners, got it? The water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing unusual.
The week of the 14th has a little glimmer. Monday the 14th in the afternoon shows light rain and barely a breath of wind, with a 4ft cross-off swell from the west. It’ll be clean.
But the big news, the one that has me pacing, is Monday the 21st of September. We’ve got a monster from the WNW, 12ft of swell with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy reading is off the charts at (6998). That’s a proper groundswell. The wind turns light offshore from the SE in the afternoon, which is perfect. For a slab like this, that’s pure magic. It’s a big, scary wave for experts only. The morning of the 21st is also exceptional with light offshore winds.
Friday the 18th is the build-up. The morning is clean with a 6ft west swell, and the afternoon hits 8ft from the west, still clean. That’s a solid day.
Sunday the 20th afternoon is another good one, with a moderate offshore breeze cleaning up a 5ft west swell.
After the 21st, it settles down a bit but stays rideable into the 22nd. The 23rd brings back the strong cross-shore wind, so that one is a write-off.
So, here’s the plan: wait out the first week. Get on it for the 18th, and make absolutely sure you are free on the 21st. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the ESE by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 8 | W 9 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 7 | W 10 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 11 | W 9 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2439 | 1710 | 1185 | 310 | 189 | 46 | 86 | 169 | 400 | 266 | 1152 | 5096 | 4915 | 3570 | 1854 | 1436 | 792 | 301 | 214 | 215 | 714 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 7:23AM4.42m | 7:29PM4.65m | 8:16AM4.69m | 8:17PM4.95m | 9:00AM4.89m | 9:00PM5.19m | 9:38AM5.00m | 9:38PM5.31m | 10:12AM5.01m | 10:14PM5.32m | 10:45AM4.94m | 10:49PM5.21m | 11:16AM4.81m | 11:23PM5.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:20PM1.99m | 1:50AM1.36m | 2:08PM1.71m | 2:35AM1.05m | 2:50PM1.49m | 3:16AM0.87m | 3:29PM1.34m | 3:55AM0.82m | 4:05PM1.28m | 4:31AM0.90m | 4:40PM1.32m | 5:06AM1.09m | 5:15PM1.44m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | WNW 11 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | SE 7 | W 10 | N 11 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | NNW 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 |
2439 | 1710 | — | 310 | 117 | 41 | 86 | 169 | 7 | 104 | 9 | 5096 | 4915 | 3570 | 1854 | 154 | 792 | 301 | 130 | 215 | 714 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | W 10 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | SE 7 | N 11 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 9 | NNW 13 | — | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 |
— | 11 | — | 220 | 11 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 55 | — | 213 | 254 | 214 | 156 | 91 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | W 8 | W 12 | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 12 | SE 6 | SE 6 | W 14 | — |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 46 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 2 | 1 | 16 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | N 4 | NW 10 | NW 8 | W 9 | SSE 2 | S 4 | SSE 4 | W 10 | W 7 | W 10 | — | S 4 | — | SSE 7 | WNW 11 | — | — | S 3 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 |
86 | 38 | 1185 | 281 | 189 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 400 | 266 | 1152 | — | 14 | — | 29 | 1436 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 775 | 730 | 596 | 282 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 753 | 774 | 347 | 816 | 2 | 198 | 72 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 1 |
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.










