Thurso East Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.61° N 3.50° W

Thurso East Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso East sea temperature is
13.5°C
0.3° 

Thurso East surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thurso East surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, NW swell with 747 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Thurso East in the next 16 days are 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Tue 25th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s
Best Surf 7AM (Tue 1st Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sun 30th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down Thurso East.

We’ve got a slow start, but don’t sleep on this one. First call is Tuesday the 25th morning – clean with a moderate offshore breeze from the southeast, swell coming from the west. But it’s small (4 ft) with a short, weak period of 10 seconds and combined energy of 308. It’s rideable for a local who knows the break, but nothing to get excited about. Wait for better.

Wednesday and Thursday are flat and mushy – not worth suiting up.

Friday the 28th starts with a cross-off breeze but the swell is almost flat (1 ft), combined energy just 12. Skip it. Afternoon goes onshore and bumpy.

Saturday the 29th is cross-onshore, choppy, 4 ft swell with a short 6-second period from the west-northwest. Hard no.

Sunday the 30th sees size jump – 6 ft morning to 7 ft afternoon – but it’s onshore, bumpy, with a short period (8–9 seconds). Not pretty for Thurso East.

Monday the 31st stays onshore, messy, 4 ft swell with a weak 8-second period.

Now, keep your eyes peeled for Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning session has a clean, glassy feel with a gentle cross-off breeze. A 3 ft north swell with an 11-second period opens it up – combined energy 352. But the afternoon is the real standout: 8 ft from the west with a 7-second period – short period, but the offshore breeze (9 mph from the southeast) will hold those waves open. Combined energy jumps to 811. This is the one for the week.

Then Wednesday the 2nd of September – oh man. Morning is glassy (slight air from the SSE), no wind, 7 ft from the northwest with a long 11-second period. Afternoon stays clean with a light offshore breeze, 7 ft north-northwest swell, period just under 11 seconds. Combined energy is massive: 1142 in the morning, 1274 in the afternoon. This is expert territory – solid size, clean conditions, and that longer period means proper groundswell. Thurso East is a point break, so this long-period northwest swell will wrap in beautifully. These two days (1st and 2nd September) are the best on offer.

Thursday the 3rd goes huge – 15 ft morning dropping to 13 ft afternoon – but the wind shifts to cross-onshore and cross-shore, making it lumpy and messy. Combined energy is enormous (5180 + 4851) but the quality is questionable, and the 12-second period will make it dump hard. Experts only, and even then only if the wind lies down.

Friday the 4th through to the 9th is a mixed bag. Friday is cross-onshore, lumpy, and dropping. Saturday the 5th has a clean morning with 4 ft and a 10-second period from the north, combined energy 511 – worth a look if you’re keen. But the rest of that weekend and early next week is blowy, choppy, or too small.

Tuesday the 8th of September has a glassy morning with 3 ft from the north-northwest and combined energy 244 – clean but tiny. Wednesday the 9th is fresh offshore but the swell is gutless (3 ft) and the wind is strong (25 mph), so no go.

Water temperature is about average for this time of year at Thurso East, around 56°F – nothing unusual.

So, the standout window is definitely the afternoon of the 1st of September through the afternoon of the 2nd of September. Big, clean, powerful groundswell, offshore winds, and Thurso East’s point setup will handle that long-period northwest swell beautifully. The bigger days on the 3rd are for experts only in better wind. Get on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat night, light winds from the N by Sun night).

Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
W
10
0.9
W
10
0.6
W
8
0.4
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.3
WNW
11
0.6
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.7
NNW
4
1.6
W
6
1.2
WNW
6
1.1
WNW
6
1.2
WNW
6
1.8
NW
8
2.2
NW
9
1.7
NW
9
1.2
NNW
8
1.2
NNW
8
1.2
NNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
308
146
50
19
12
22
68
57
35
11
12
163
96
80
99
424
747
429
197
190
306
Wind (km/h)
25
SE
25
SE
20
SE
25
SE
25
ESE
20
SE
20
SE
25
SE
20
ESE
15
ENE
20
WNW
20
W
25
W
20
W
30
WSW
25
WNW
20
NW
10
N
10
NNW
10
NW
10
WSW
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
8:10PM4.48m
8:43AM4.38m
8:45PM4.70m
9:14AM4.57m
9:16PM4.89m
9:44AM4.72m
9:46PM5.03m
10:13AM4.81m
10:16PM5.11m
10:42AM4.84m
10:47PM5.13m
11:13AM4.82m
11:19PM5.06m
Low Tide
1:59PM2.11m
2:26AM1.71m
2:35PM1.88m
2:59AM1.48m
3:08PM1.68m
3:31AM1.30m
3:40PM1.52m
4:03AM1.17m
4:11PM1.43m
4:35AM1.10m
4:44PM1.40m
5:08AM1.12m
5:17PM1.45m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:56
5:58
6:01
6:03
6:05
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:35
8:31
8:29
8:27
8:23
8:21
8:17
 mm
2
1
1
1
Temp °C
15
14
12
16
17
14
15
15
14
14
14
14
15
15
13
12
12
11
12
12
11
Feels °C
10
9
8
12
13
12
12
12
11
12
11
11
11
11
9
7
7
8
8
9
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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