Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.1° C
0.2° 

Thurso Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thurso Reef surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, NW swell with 1,070 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with NNW 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 2.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Mon 27th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Best Surf 7AM (Mon 27th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sun 26th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 10s

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 on the cards for Thurso Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, this is a tale of two very different halves. The first few days are a total write-off, so don’t even bother looking at the ocean until it calms down. We’ve got a big, messy, wind-affected swell on Saturday the 25th that’s just raw and unruly—11.5 ft from the WNW with a 10-second period, but that’s married to a howling 25 mph cross-shore. The wave energy is extreme (2708), but you wouldn’t want to be out there; it's just a washing machine. That drops into Sunday the 26th but stays junky with onshore winds. Monday the 27th is where things finally turn around.

Monday the 27th is your first real shot. The swell drops to a much more manageable 5.6 ft from the NNW, and more importantly, we get a nice clean, cross-off breeze. The water temp is sitting at 55.6°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s a reef break that’s fairly consistent and gets exposed to the swell, so this morning session is looking like the standout of the whole period. It’s not pumping massive, but it’s clean and surfable. This is a good day for an intermediate surfer to get out. The afternoon holds similar 5.2 ft waves, still clean.

Tuesday the 28th is a bit of a drop-off, with the swell backing off to 4.9 ft and then 4.6 ft, and the moderate energy (648) suggests it’s weakening. It’s still clean, but the quality is more marginal. Wednesday the 29th morning has a bit of life left—3.3 ft from the north with light winds—but by the afternoon it drops to 2.6 ft and gets a little lumpy. After that, from Thursday the 30th through to Tuesday the 5th of August, we hit a big dry spell. The swell tanks, dropping to under 3 ft, and the wave energy readings are pitiful—down to as low as 10. There’s nothing worth paddling out for in that entire stretch; it’s a solid week of flat or near-flat conditions.

Wednesday the 6th of August gives us a little surprise. The swell comes back to 4.3 ft from the west, and the wind goes completely glassy in the morning. It’s not a powerful swell, with a short 6-second period, but you could get a few grovelly waves in dead calm conditions. The energy is weak (136), but for a quiet session, it might be alright. Thursday the 7th and beyond fades out again with small, onshore junk.

So, to sum it up: don’t even look at the ocean until Monday the 27th of July. That’s your one true highlight—clean, 5.6 ft waves from the NNW, cross-off breeze, decent shape for the reef. After that, it’s a long drought until that glassy window on the 6th of August, but that’s really just a small-wave novelty. The rest is a reminder that reef breaks can go quiet for a while.

Stay patient, watch the wind, and I’ll catch you in the water.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
2
3
0
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WNW
10
2.3
NW
10
1.7
NNW
9
1.7
NNW
9
1.6
NNW
9
1.4
W
10
1.4
NNW
10
1.4
N
10
1.1
N
9
1
N
9
0.9
N
9
0.7
W
8
0.6
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.5
N
8
1.2
W
7
1.6
W
8
1.4
W
8
1
W
7
0.9
W
7
0.8
W
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
544
1013
468
495
424
377
363
377
202
157
123
66
46
44
28
146
333
251
108
88
68
Wind (km/h)
20
NW
30
WNW
20
W
10
SSW
30
WNW
10
WNW
20
SSE
20
SSW
15
SSW
15
S
10
SSE
10
SE
0
SSW
15
WNW
25
WSW
25
WSW
20
W
20
SSW
25
SW
30
SW
30
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:34AM4.01m
7:51PM4.32m
8:24AM4.15m
8:32PM4.50m
9:05AM4.29m
9:09PM4.66m
9:40AM4.43m
9:42PM4.80m
10:12AM4.53m
10:14PM4.89m
10:43AM4.59m
10:44PM4.94m
11:14AM4.61m
11:15PM4.95m
Low Tide
1:36PM2.21m
2:10AM1.96m
2:18PM2.06m
2:49AM1.76m
2:55PM1.92m
3:24AM1.58m
3:30PM1.78m
3:58AM1.44m
4:04PM1.69m
4:30AM1.35m
4:37PM1.63m
5:03AM1.31m
5:10PM1.63m
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:48
4:50
4:52
4:56
4:58
5:00
5:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:49
9:46
9:45
9:43
9:40
9:38
9:36
 mm
4
2
1
2
2
3
2
2
1
Temp °C
13
13
11
12
14
12
14
17
16
18
17
16
15
15
12
15
15
13
16
15
12
Feels °C
6
6
6
9
9
9
10
14
14
16
16
17
16
10
7
10
11
10
11
8
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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