Thurso East Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.61° N 3.50° W

Thurso East Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso East sea temperature is
13.5°C
0.8° 

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 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with 4,672 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Wed 9th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 11th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Gday, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the waves on the horizon for Thurso East.

The honest truth is, the next week and a half is going to test your patience. We’ve got a run of poor, wind-blown conditions with the odd tease of a clean moment, but nothing that’ll have you rushing for your wetsuit. The swell is there, but the wind is going to be all over it. The real light at the end of the tunnel is the 18th, and then again on the 22nd. That’s where the focus should be.

Looking at the coming days, Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are basically write-offs. The surf is small and the wind is onshore, making for messy, poor conditions. The combined energy is weak to moderate (406 on Wednesday morning), but it’s not going to matter. Friday the 11th sees a bit more size, up around 7ft to 7ft in the morning and afternoon, but it’s a short-period, wind-blown mess with fresh onshore winds. Not worth it.

The weekend is looking properly blown out. Saturday the 12th is the biggest of the lot – 12ft of WNW swell – but it’s a churning, cross-onshore shambles with strong winds. The combined energy is massive (4147 and 3727), but it’s going to be a stormy, lumpy mess. If you’ve got a kite, you’ll be laughing, but for a paddle board, it’s not even a consideration. Sunday settles slightly with 7ft but still cross-onshore and lumpy.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th are still poor. The swell drops but the wind stays on it. It’s not until Wednesday the 16th that we get a taste of something clean. The morning has some cross-offshore wind with surf around 5ft from the WNW. It’s small but it looks clean. That said, it’s not a standout by any means.

The first real standout is Friday the 18th at Thurso East, Scotland. The afternoon session is where it’s at. We’ve got SSW winds at just 3 mph, basically glassy, with 8ft of WNW groundswell. The combined swell energy is strong (2167). This is the one that will have your heart beating faster. It’s an expert wave on a point break, and with that swell direction, it should be lining up well. This is one to clear your schedule for. The morning before it is decent too, at 8ft but with a bit more cross-shore wind.

The 19th has some clean options with light offshore winds in the afternoon, but the swell is smaller at 5ft.

Then we’ve got a bit of a lull again. Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st are poor again with onshore winds. But Tuesday the 22nd is the second standout. The morning looks excellent – S winds at 6 mph, cross-offshore, with 8ft of west swell. The energy is strong (1212). It’s a slightly different direction, straight out of the west, but there’s enough size and it’s clean. Another great day for the experienced crew.

After that, Wednesday the 23rd gets messy again with strong winds. But Thursday the 24th has a big finale on the forecast. The morning has 8ft with gentle cross-offshore breezes, and the afternoon is packing a punch: 13ft of west swell with moderate cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is very strong (4919). That’s a serious amount of water moving. It’s definitely only for the experts, and with that long period, it’ll be grinding. It’s a promising end to the window, though a while out, so you have to take it with a grain of salt.

The water temps are around 56°, which is a touch above the norm for this time of year.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Fri morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sat morning, calm by Mon night).

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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
1
0
3
3
1
1
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)
1.1
W
10
1
W
9
0.7
N
7
0.8
W
7
0.9
W
8
1.8
W
11
2.1
W
7
2.2
W
9
2.3
WNW
11
3.5
WNW
13
3.5
WNW
12
2.5
WNW
12
2.1
WNW
11
1.8
WNW
11
1.3
NNW
12
1.3
NNW
12
1.5
W
9
1.4
W
11
1.5
W
11
1.4
W
10
1.3
WNW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
220
162
48
68
93
723
428
830
1274
4141
3727
1718
1027
716
452
452
349
474
498
392
308
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
15
WNW
15
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
25
WSW
35
W
30
WSW
15
SSE
45
W
35
W
15
WSW
20
W
10
WNW
20
SSE
15
SW
15
WSW
15
W
35
W
35
W
20
W
Wind State
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
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
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:30
6:33
6:35
6:37
6:39
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:52
7:50
7:46
7:44
7:40
7:37
7:35
 mm
2
1
2
4
Temp °C
11
13
11
13
15
14
13
14
14
14
14
11
14
14
14
18
16
14
12
12
11
Feels °C
6
10
7
8
11
10
6
8
7
6
7
7
9
12
9
14
14
14
5
4
5
  • 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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