Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, W swell with 1,246 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. 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 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
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 Thurso East has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I've got to be straight with you—it's a bit of a tale of waiting for a window, with a whole lot of frustration before we get a sniff of something decent.
The pattern is pretty grim for the first week and a half. We've got a solid run of onshore and cross-onshore winds, mostly from the west and northwest, blowing straight into the bay. From Tuesday the 21st of July right through to Monday the 27th, it's a write-off. The wind is up, the sea is messy, and even though the swell is churning with energy—sometimes hitting that strong range (913 on the energy scale on Sunday the 27th)—it’s just not going to be any fun out there. You’re looking at a good few days of choppy, lumpy, poor conditions. No point even getting the wetsuit wet.
Then we hit a real lull. The wind eases off on the 28th and 29th, but the swell drops out with it. We get a little glimpse of something special on Wednesday morning the 29th of July. The wind goes glassy—absolutely dead calm—and there’s a 5ft groundswell rolling in from the WNW with a 9-second period. The energy is moderate (297) but with those conditions, the surface will be like a mirror. That’s your window for a clean, early session. It’s not going to be huge, but it’ll be the neatest waves you’ll see for a while.
After that, the swell just vanishes. From the 30th through the 4th of August, we are looking at barely a ripple. It’s a proper blank spell, which for this area is just part of the summer pattern. By Friday the 31st of July, the wind turns offshore from the southeast, a strong 18-22 mph breeze, and it’s clean as a whistle, but with only 5-5ft of swell and moderate energy (576), it's a marginal call. Might be worth a look if you can handle the fresh offshore wind and the tide, but it’s not a standout.
The one true standout? I’d put my money on that Wednesday the 29th of July dawn patrol. It’s not big, but it’ll be clean, glassy, and about as good as it gets in this run. The rest of the period is either blown out or flat. Keep an eye on the longer range, but for now, pick your moment.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Tue morning, moderate winds from the W by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Fri night, fresh winds from the NW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 266 | 600 | 634 | 322 | 287 | 207 | 182 | 342 | 484 | 661 | 762 | 773 | 703 | 720 | 490 | 328 | 251 | 251 | 759 | 1148 | 1102 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:54PM4.11m | 2:57AM4.31m | 3:51PM3.98m | 4:00AM4.08m | 4:54PM3.95m | 5:13AM3.94m | 6:01PM4.00m | 6:29AM3.92m | 7:01PM4.14m | 7:34AM4.01m | 7:51PM4.32m | 8:24AM4.15m | 8:32PM4.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:29AM1.81m | 8:40PM2.34m | 9:27AM2.09m | 9:49PM2.49m | 10:35AM2.28m | 11:12PM2.51m | 11:45AM2.35m | 00:26AM2.39m | 12:46PM2.31m | 1:24AM2.19m | 1:36PM2.21m | 2:10AM1.96m | 2:18PM2.06m | 2:49AM1.76m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 4:39 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — | 4:43 | — | — | 4:45 | — | — | 4:47 | — | — | 4:48 | — | — | 4:50 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:57 | — | — | 9:54 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:49 | — | — | 9:46 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | — | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | — | N 6 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | N 9 |
| kJ | 12 | 5 | — | 25 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 1 | — | 703 | 720 | 490 | 328 | 251 | 251 | 154 | 110 | 56 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 84 | 132 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 |
| kJ | 266 | 600 | 634 | 322 | 287 | 207 | 182 | 342 | 484 | 661 | 762 | 773 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 759 | 1148 | 1102 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 813 | 1114 | 589 | 315 | 450 | 72 | 418 | 491 | 414 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 25 | 26 | 592 | 291 | 375 | 0 | 25 | 390 | 816 |
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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