Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break this down, Rusty here. We’re looking at Thurso Reef for the next couple weeks, and I’ll give it to you straight.

Right now, it’s a tough start. Friday the 11th is a miss – looks clean with a 2.2m swell out of the west, but that cross-offshore wind is cranking at 35 km/h and the energy reading is only 470 (weak). It’s just wonky. Saturday the 12th is even worse – a big 3.0m west swell with a 13-second period and near gale-force winds. The swell energy jumps to 2980 (strong), but it’s way too big and blown out for a normal paddle. More of a kite day.

Then we get a sweet spot. Sunday morning, the 13th, things calm down. We’ve got a 1.9m swell from the west-northwest with a nice 11-second period and a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the southwest at only 15 km/h. The combined energy is 933 (moderate). The forecast reads “very good surf conditions.” For a reef break with that offshore wind direction, this is the best of the whole run. The water temp is about average for this time of year in Scotland, so bring the rubber. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so expect some company.

Monday the 14th is clean but small – 1.0m swell from the north-northwest, offshore south winds at 20 km/h, energy at 414 (moderate). It’s there but not special. From Tuesday the 15th through Wednesday the 16th, it’s all poor again with onshore and cross-onshore winds, so don’t bother.

Thursday the 17th gives a little tease – a 2.2m west swell with a 9-second period and cross-offshore winds, energy of 848 (moderate). Could be okay for an intermediate. But then the beast comes. Friday the 18th through Saturday the 19th sees huge, oversized waves – 3.5m to 6.0m out of the west with very long periods (12–15 seconds) and constant fresh cross-offshore winds. The combined energy is enormous – 16477 for that Saturday afternoon. These are expert-only, no question. Too big for beginners and most regular surfers.

The second week is a relentless run of heavy, stormy, or blown-out conditions. Sunday the 20th has a 5.5m west swell with 90 km/h storm-force cross-shore winds – total chaos. Monday the 21st, Tuesday the 22nd, and beyond are all solid sized – 4.0m to 5.0m – but the winds are cross-off or cross-shore, and the energy numbers are off the charts. Nothing clean or rideable. Thursday the 24th offers a 3.5m north-northwest swell with a light offshore south breeze at 10 km/h (energy 3500 – strong), but that’s still too big for most. Friday the 25th drops to 1.7m to 2.0m but with lumpy cross-winds.

The bottom line: the only real standout is Sunday morning, September 13th. That’s your window. After that, it’s a week and a half of either too small, too windy, or too damn big. Not much else to say.

Rusty.

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