Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, N swell with 440 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thurso Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming up.
Honestly, it’s a pretty poor stretch overall. The swell is small and the wind is mostly getting in the way. The best we’re looking at are a few small, clean moments.
Starting with Thursday, July 30th, it’s a total loss. Rain showers, a 3ft NNW swell, but that cross-shore wind out of the WNW at 12 mph is wrecking it. The combined energy is just 135 – weak. Forget it.
Friday, July 31st has the best chance early. The morning is clear, and the swell jumps to 5ft from the WNW, with a clean cross-offshore wind from the West at 19 mph. The period is short though, only 6 seconds, so it’ll be a bit weak and sloppy. Still, it’s the cleanest we’ll see for a while.
Saturday morning, August 1st, has a clean cross-off breeze again, but the swell drops to 3ft from the NNW with an 8-second period. It’s barely surfable, and energy is moderate at 215. Not a highlight.
The next real chance is Monday, August 3rd. The morning has a 5ft swell from the North with a longer 10-second period, giving a combined energy of 485 – that’s moderate but getting interesting. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NE at just 3 mph. It’s marginal, but for size, this is your best bet. It’s for intermediate surfers; not huge, but it has some push. Being a reef, that longer period will make for a better wave face.
After that, it’s all downhill. From August 4th through to the 14th, the swell fades from 3ft down to a measly 0.7ft. Winds are mostly cross or onshore, and the energy drops from 122 down to nothing. There are a couple of clean windows around August 10th and 11th, with glassy and offshore winds and a tiny 3ft WNW swell, but it’s “surfable but very ordinary” – strictly longboard territory.
The absolute standout in this sorry run is Monday morning, August 10th. It’s not the size, just 3ft from the WNW, but the wind is glass – dead calm from the WSW at 3 mph. On a reef like Thurso, that’s going to be mirror-smooth. The energy is moderate at 123, so it’s small but clean. For anyone who just wants a peaceful, clean session, that’s your moment.
In short, it’s a quiet period. The first week has one or two marginal chances, the second week is mostly a snooze. Don’t get your hopes up too high.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 8 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 75 | 56 | 205 | 121 | 95 | 118 | 154 | 306 | 221 | 202 | 210 | 440 | 369 | 194 | 112 | 66 | 63 | 41 | 27 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:14PM4.89m | 10:43AM4.59m | 10:44PM4.94m | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | 11:46AM4.59m | 11:48PM4.91m | 12:20PM4.52m | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | 1:46PM4.29m | 1:55AM4.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:04PM1.69m | 4:30AM1.35m | 4:37PM1.63m | 5:03AM1.31m | 5:10PM1.63m | 5:36AM1.32m | 5:43PM1.68m | 6:12AM1.38m | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | 7:34AM1.68m | 7:47PM2.10m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — |
 | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 |
mm | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | W 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 |
| kJ | 75 | 28 | 18 | 16 | 23 | 60 | 154 | 306 | 221 | 202 | 210 | 440 | 369 | 194 | 112 | 66 | 63 | 41 | 27 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | N 7 | — | — | N 11 | NNW 8 | — | W 10 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | W 10 |
| kJ | 10 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 118 | — | 2 | — | 123 | 57 | 7 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | N 11 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 5 | W 6 | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | ENE 2 | NE 3 | E 3 | E 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 2 |
| kJ | 50 | 56 | 205 | 121 | 95 | — | 91 | 54 | 155 | — | — | 36 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1181 | 413 | 449 | 755 | 1 | 28 | 835 | 71 | 26 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 73 | 73 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thurso Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thurso Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thurso Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thurso Reef 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 Reef) 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 Reef 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 Reef, 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, Kirkwall and Lossiemouth.
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