
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, W swell with 819 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s going on for Thurso East over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a bit of a rough start. The first few days are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a solid point break here, but for the first week, the wind is just relentless. The swell is there, but it’s being trashed. From Tuesday the 21st through to Saturday the 25th, we’re looking at cross-onshore winds in the 15 to 25 mph range, and the wave comment is just “poor surf conditions” across the board. The swell is mostly 6 ft to 8 ft, with a lot of short-period, messy, wind-affected stuff. The combined energy is moderate at best, ranging from 304 to 820, but it’s all juice with no shape. It’s not worth paddling out for.
Now, we finally get a bit of a window. Sunday morning, July 26th is the standout. The wind drops right off, swinging to a glassy NNE at just 3 mph. The swell drops a touch to 4 ft, but it’s still a long-period groundswell at 10 seconds, coming from the WNW. The combined energy is moderate (408), and the conditions are glassy. It’s going to be clean. The water temp is 55°, which is about average for the time of year, so not a shock to the system. This is the best on offer in the whole run, and it’s the one to aim for.
After that, Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are a mixed bag. Monday gets messy again with cross-shore winds, but then Tuesday morning, July 28th brings another clean window. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW at 9 mph, with a 5 ft, 10-second WNW swell. It’s clean and surfable, but it’s not as good as that Sunday session.
Looking further out, the second week is a bit of a fade. We get another brief moment on Thursday afternoon, July 30th, where the wind goes glassy from the SSE at 3 mph. The swell is down to 5 ft, and the period is a bit shorter at 9 seconds, but it’ll be clean. The energy is moderate (338). After that, the swell really drops off. From the 31st of July through to the 5th of August, we’re looking at tiny waves – mostly 2 ft to 4 ft with very weak combined energy (34 to 161). The wind is okay, but there’s just no power in the water. It’s a long flat spell to end the forecast.
So, the pick of the litter is Sunday morning, July 26th. Get on it if you can. The rest of the week is a write-off, and the second week is a slow fade. That’s the truth of it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Tue morning). 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 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, calm 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 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | N 10 | W 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
292 | 645 | 698 | 383 | 270 | 231 | 219 | 408 | 509 | 757 | 819 | 742 | 597 | 625 | 480 | 322 | 259 | 484 | 698 | 754 | 523 | |
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 | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | 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 | 8:40PM2.34m | 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 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | — | WNW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | N 6 | — | N 7 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | N 10 | N 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 |
12 | 5 | — | 383 | 14 | 23 | 8 | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | 597 | 625 | 480 | 322 | 259 | 240 | 192 | 754 | 523 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | N 10 | — | — | N 9 | N 9 |
— | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 86 | 235 | — | — | 139 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | WNW 10 | — | — |
292 | 645 | 698 | — | 270 | 231 | 219 | 408 | 509 | 757 | 819 | 742 | — | — | — | — | — | 484 | 698 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 833 | 835 | 458 | 328 | 592 | 72 | 359 | 491 | 2 | 522 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 26 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 160 | 414 |
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.










