Surf Forecasts:
Thurso East surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, WNW swell with 2,258 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso East in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso East over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s coming up for Thurso East.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The forecast is showing a whole lot of wind and very little in the way of clean, rideable waves. For the first week, from Sunday the 19th right through to Friday the 31st of July, it’s a write-off. We’re looking at solid onshore and cross-onshore winds from the WNW and W, with speeds hitting 15 to 25 mph. The swell is there, but it’s a mess – stormy, choppy, lumpy. The combined energy might be moderate (346) on Wednesday the 22nd, but it doesn’t matter because the quality is just poor. It’s one of those periods where you’re better off staying home.
Now, the only glimmer of real hope comes on Saturday the 25th of July. The morning is still a write-off with light rain and cross-onshore winds, but the afternoon session looks like a proper standout. The wind swings to a light S, going cross-offshore at just 6 mph. The swell is still a solid 8 ft from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy, and you can feel it with a combined energy of 1377. Conditions are described as clean. For a spot like Thurso East, this is the window. The wave is going to be powerful and lined up, but at that size and with it being an expert spot, this is for experienced surfers only. Beginners, stay on the beach. The water temp is about 56°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about.
After that, it goes quiet again. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th drop off in size and the wind turns messy again. There’s a tiny flicker of hope on Saturday the 1st of August, with a glassy morning, but the swell is just 4 ft with a weak period of 8 seconds and combined energy of only 234. It’s barely worth paddling out for. The rest of the run into the 3rd of August is more of the same – wind and closeouts.
So, the call is simple: if you’re an expert, circle Saturday the 25th of July in the afternoon. That’s your one shot. Everything else is a wait-and-see. The pattern is stubborn, but the sea can change quickly.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the WNW on Sun night, strong winds from the WNW by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed afternoon, strong winds from the W by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 84 | 125 | 68 | 188 | 188 | 204 | 181 | 362 | 431 | 311 | 297 | 197 | 186 | 212 | 394 | 1143 | 1710 | 2258 | 1853 | 1377 | 579 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:16PM4.50m | 1:14AM4.84m | 2:04PM4.29m | 2:03AM4.58m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:58PM1.91m | 7:38AM1.51m | 7:46PM2.13m | 8:29AM1.81m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | | |  |  | | | |
 | 4:35 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — | 4:43 | — | — | 4:45 | — | — | 4:47 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:57 | — | — | 9:54 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 11 | W 11 | WNW 8 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 8 | NW 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | W 13 | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 25 | 11 | 43 | 38 | 188 | 52 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 35 | 297 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1377 | 579 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | W 9 | N 6 | W 10 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 |
| kJ | 16 | 46 | 13 | 2 | 33 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | N 6 | NE 7 | N 6 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | — | — |
| kJ | 84 | 125 | 68 | 188 | — | 204 | 181 | 362 | 431 | 311 | — | 197 | 186 | 212 | 394 | 1143 | 1710 | 2258 | 1853 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 72 | 72 | 180 | 180 | 1091 | 349 | 782 | 1114 | 458 | 72 | 72 | 359 | 418 | 427 | 25 | 420 | 1114 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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.
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