
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with 3,937 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 3.5m 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for Thurso East over the next couple of weeks.
First up, we've got a bit of a slow start. For the first three days, Wednesday the 9th through to the morning of Friday the 11th, it's pretty grim. The swell is small and messy, with a cross-onshore wind making things choppy and unsurfable. You're better off staying at home for that stretch.
Things start to get interesting on Saturday the 12th. We've got a serious pulse of groundswell rolling in from the WNW with a solid 12 feet of size and a very long 13-second period. The combined energy reading is a massive 3669, so there's a ton of power here. The wind is offshore SSE, which will be clean. This is only for the experienced crew though – at over 8 feet, it's a big, heavy day. The afternoon sees the size drop a touch to 10 feet, but the wind goes onshore, making it trickier.
Sunday the 13th is a funny one. The morning is a write-off with a choppy cross-on wind on a dropping 8-foot swell. But hold onto your board shorts for the afternoon – the wind goes completely glassy with 0 mph! The swell is still a clean 6 feet from the WNW with a long 11-second period. It's an expert-level wave, but that glassy surface will be a dream.
The middle of the week looks pretty average with onshore winds and lumpy surf, but Thursday the 17th morning gives us another glassy session, albeit with a much smaller 3-foot swell that's a bit weak.
Now, the real standout in the second week is Monday the 21st of September. The morning brings in a beautiful 6-foot WNW groundswell with a very long 13-second period. The wind is light offshore from the SSE, so it'll be clean. For a point break like Thurso East, that long period will create some beautifully lined-up walls. This is the pick of the bunch for anyone who can handle a bit of grunt. The afternoon holds a solid 5 feet with moderate offshore winds, still very good.
Following that, Wednesday the 23rd of September afternoon looks special. The wind is glassy (5 mph from SSE) and the swell is a punchy 6 feet from the west with a 13-second period and an energy reading of 1170. It'll be absolutely pristine.
To sum it up: the first weekend (12th-13th) has the biggest, most powerful swell, but the true gem for quality and clean conditions is Monday the 21st, with Wednesday the 23rd afternoon coming in a close second. The water temp here is running about average for the time of year, so don't expect any surprises.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 11 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
220 | 157 | 48 | 70 | 92 | 609 | 428 | 742 | 3197 | 3662 | 3102 | 2287 | 1277 | 793 | 341 | 331 | 536 | 689 | 646 | 520 | 339 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 11:47AM4.64m | 11:58PM4.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:39AM1.36m | 5:50PM1.64m | ||||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | W 9 | W 5 | W 7 | W 8 | SE 6 | SE 7 | N 11 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | — | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | N 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
186 | 157 | 27 | 70 | 92 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 3197 | 3662 | 3102 | — | 1277 | 793 | 341 | 331 | 221 | 121 | 83 | 520 | 339 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 11 | N 11 | NNW 10 | N 9 | N 9 | — | NNW 14 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | WNW 9 | SE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | N 11 | NW 9 |
220 | 91 | 34 | 26 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 6 | — | 115 | 213 | 285 | 132 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 82 | 109 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 5 | W 8 | W 12 | W 12 | — | — | — | N 10 | — | — | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | N 10 |
— | 1 | 48 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 74 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 2 | S 4 | SSE 3 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | SSW 4 | — | — | WNW 12 | — | — | SSE 2 | S 4 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | — | SE 5 |
— | — | 1 | 9 | 7 | 609 | 428 | 742 | 11 | — | — | 2287 | — | — | 1 | 18 | 536 | 689 | 646 | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 165 | 600 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 596 | 656 | 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.










