Thurso East Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Thurso East.

First thing to say – this is a wild stretch. The first week is a write-off, and we’ve got a long, frustrating gap before anything worth paddling out for shows up. We’re looking at basically a full week of onshore wind and raw, messy conditions. The water temps are sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of life comes on Tuesday, 11 August. It’s small – a clean 4ft from the N with a short 8-second period and gentle offshore wind from the SE. The energy is weak (183), but it’s an offshore wind at Thurso East, which is a major positive. The crowd factor is “sometimes”, so you might have a few mates out, but it won’t be a circus. This is the best option on offer in the first week. By Tuesday afternoon, it drops to 3ft, so get on it early.

Wednesday, 12 August, is tiny – 1ft to 2ft – but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon. That’s a treat for the eyes, but you’ll be on a longboard pushing for scraps. The 12-second period on the morning swell (1ft from the W) is a nice groundswell, but there’s just not enough height.

Then things get bleak. From Thursday, 13 August, right through to the end of the second week, the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the swell is either too small, too short period, or both. The energy is low, often under 100. There’s a pulse of swell on Tuesday, 18 August (6ft from the W, 10 seconds, moderate energy of 565), but that cross-on wind from the W just makes it a lumpy, choppy mess. Not worth it.

The standout – and I mean the only real standout in the whole 16 days – is looking at Tuesday, 11 August, morning. That’s your window. 4ft from the N, 8-second period, clean SE offshore wind. It’s not a monster, but it’s the only time the wind plays nice with a rideable swell. For a spot like Thurso East, that’s a gift.

Apart from that, the rest of the period is a bust. The bigger swells in the third week (around 7ft from the WNW on Friday, 21 August) come with cross-on or onshore wind, ruining the shape. The energy is moderate to strong (811 on Friday morning), but the wind direction kills it for a point break like this. At 7ft and over, it’s expert territory anyway, and with onshore wind, it’s just a washing machine.

Bottom line: if you’re itching for a paddle, Tuesday morning, 11 August, is your only real shot. The rest? Save your energy.

Rusty.

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