Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with 1,024 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with WNW 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 23) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. 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 2.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Thurso Reef.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start to the forecast period. The first week is a write-off, truly. From Saturday the 22nd right through to the end of the month, the surf is small and messy. Winds are mostly cross or cross-on, and the swell is small and weak. The only real flicker of life comes on Monday the 24th, when a 6.6ft swell from the WNW shows up with a long period of 11 seconds and clean cross-off winds from the SE. The combined wave energy is 973, which is a solid moderate push. That Monday morning session looks like the standout of the first week, and it’s not even a guarantee – the afternoon drops off into marginal tide conditions. It’s a tease, but the clean conditions and that long-period groundswell will make for some proper, well-shaped waves at this reef. Be aware, though, that long-period swell like this can feel a bit fat at a beach break, but at a reef like this, it’ll be peeling nicely. Crowds are possible here, so get out early.
Then we hit a dry spell again. The winds turn nasty from the 29th onwards, with strong cross-on breezes and a messy, lumpy ocean. The swell gets bigger – up to 9.8ft on Monday the 31st – but the wind is howling and the wave energy is huge (1254), but it’s just a washing machine. This is one for the kite surfers, not the paddle crew.
The real action doesn’t start until the second week. Thursday the 3rd of September looks promising. We get an 8.2ft to 9.8ft WNW swell, with a period of 10 seconds, and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is massive (1253 to 2194). That’s strong to very strong wave energy. However, the swell is so big it’s flagged as too big for this break on Thursday afternoon. This is expert territory only. If you’re not a seasoned charger, stay on the beach.
Friday the 4th of September is the absolute standout. An 11.5ft swell from the west with a 12-second period – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is a massive 3043, which is very strong. The morning has clean, glassy cross-off winds from the SE. This is as good as it gets. The waves will be powerful, lined up, and the reef will handle that long-period energy beautifully. Again, this is strictly for experts. The swell is well over 8.2ft, so it’s a dangerous day for anyone not in the top tier. After that, Saturday the 5th still has an 8.2ft swell, but the wind picks up to a fresh 30 km/h from the SE, making it a bit lumpy.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is mostly a bust, with that one clean window on Monday the 24th. The second week, specifically Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September, is where the magic is, but it’s big and dangerous. If you’re an expert, you know what to do. If not, give it a miss.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 97 | 50 | 20 | 57 | 123 | 452 | 973 | 763 | 400 | 323 | 156 | 50 | 34 | 32 | 19 | 71 | 61 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 135 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:18PM3.86m | 6:14AM3.76m | 6:34PM4.01m | 7:22AM3.94m | 7:29PM4.24m | 8:08AM4.17m | 8:10PM4.48m | 8:43AM4.38m | 8:45PM4.70m | 9:14AM4.57m | 9:16PM4.89m | 9:44AM4.72m | 9:46PM5.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:03AM2.65m | 00:01AM2.49m | 12:23PM2.55m | 1:05AM2.25m | 1:18PM2.35m | 1:49AM1.97m | 1:59PM2.11m | 2:26AM1.71m | 2:35PM1.88m | 2:59AM1.48m | 3:08PM1.68m | 3:31AM1.30m | 3:40PM1.52m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | |  | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | 2 | 13 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 |
| kJ | 97 | 50 | 20 | 26 | 123 | 452 | 973 | 763 | 400 | 323 | 156 | 50 | 34 | 32 | 19 | 71 | 61 | 41 | 66 | 49 | 100 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | NW 10 | N 9 | N 8 | E 6 | N 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | E 13 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 10 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 52 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 6 | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | W 9 | W 12 | N 8 | — | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 11 | 10 | — | 9 | 4 | 4 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 6 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 3 | — | — | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 7 | 19 | 12 | 57 | — | — | — | 3 | 12 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 18 | — | 59 | 6 | — | — | 135 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 71 | 106 | 28 | 43 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 9 | 165 | 177 | 178 | 73 | 1 | 16 | 24 | 71 | 255 |
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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