Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, let’s talk about what’s in the water. It’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, with a long stretch of quiet days before a bit of a rumble shows up way down the line.

We kick off on Wednesday, July 8th. Thurso Reef has a 3ft wave from the west in the morning, but the wind is a cross-off. The combined energy is weak (121), so it’s not exactly pumping. The water is about 54°, which is normal for this time of year. The afternoon gets a bit messier with a cross-on wind.

Thursday the 9th is the best of the near-term. The morning offers a 3ft swell from the west, and the wind is glassy—dead flat calm. That’s a huge plus for a reef, giving you clean, lined-up waves. The energy is a moderate 182, so there’s a bit of grunt. It’s a small window, but it’s a beauty. The afternoon sees the swell push to 4ft, but the wind goes straight onshore, ruining it.

From Friday the 10th through to Monday the 13th, it’s a total write-off. We’re looking at tiny waves, often under 2ft, with cross or onshore breezes. The energy numbers are in the dirt, some as low as 37. Don’t waste your petrol.

Tuesday the 14th morning has a 4ft swell from the west-northwest with a 10-second period, giving a moderate energy of 269. But the wind is cross-shore, creating a bit of chop. It’s a marginal call, and the afternoon gets uglier with a 20 km/h wind.

From Wednesday the 15th all the way to Sunday the 20th, it’s mostly small and poor. The swell rarely gets above 2ft, and the wind is a constant problem. The energy is almost always below 100. This is a proper flat spell.

Now, the long-range hope. On Monday, July 20th, the swell finally shows up. We’re looking at a 6ft wave from the west-northwest in the morning, with a strong combined energy of 434. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s going to be a bumpy, choppy mess. 6ft is solid for intermediates, but with that cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a battle. The afternoon bumps to 6ft with energy at 580, still cross-shore. This is for experts only, and honestly, with that much chop, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing day than a clean paddle-surfing session. The size is there, but the quality is not.

The swell fades again through the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, with a hint of small, clean surf on the 22nd with a cross-off wind, but it’s only 3ft.

So, the only true standout is the glassy Thursday morning, the 9th of July. It’s small but perfection. The long-range size on the 20th is a big number, but the wind spoils the party. Keep an eye on it, but don’t expect a classic.

Rusty.

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