Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.6°C
0.8° 

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 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, WNW swell with 5,168 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period with W 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 8th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Best Surf 7AM (Tue 8th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got cookin’ for Thurso Reef over the next couple weeks. It’s a reef break, exposed as all get-out, and it wants a nice NW swell to really get going.

Overall Pattern & First Call

Right off the bat, Tuesday morning the 8th of September looks like a monster. We’re talking a solid 10-foot swell from the west, with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a lot of juice – the combined swell energy is massive at (2439). The wind is a clean offshore from the SSW, so it’ll be glassy and lined up. But honestly, this thing is pumping hard; at 10 feet, this is expert territory only. This is our first standout and the best wave of the early window, but you better know what you’re doing out there.

The afternoon gets blown out by a strong north wind, so that window closes fast.

Mid-Week Lull

Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are pretty average. The swell drops right off, and the wind stays cross or cross-off. A few clean sessions, but the wave heights are tiny—under 4 feet—and the periods are short. Not much to get excited about.

Weekend & Next Week Potential

Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th see the swell build back up, but it gets too big again. Saturday morning has a 13-foot WNW swell (energy at 4923) with clean offshore winds, but that’s a death-drop for most of us. Sunday afternoon the 13th is the sweet spot for the experienced crew: 6 feet, 11 second groundswell from the WNW, gentle breeze keeping it clean. The combined energy is still solid (1036), and the conditions are marked as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s our second standout.

We then go through a few days of smaller, less consistent waves until the 18th of September. Friday the 18th morning is looking very good for the intermediate crowd. A clean 6-foot west swell with a gentle offshore wind. Then Friday afternoon gets bigger again at 8 feet, still clean, and excellent for experienced surfers.

The Far Outlook (Second Week)

Saturday the 19th has a big 10-foot swell in the morning (energy at 4138) – too big for most again – but the afternoon drops to a cleaner 7 feet with light winds, which is a nice session for the stronger paddlers. The following week sees another big pulse on the 21st of September with a very long-period 16-second swell from the WNW, but again, 12 feet is just massive for this spot. That long period will make it bend hard around the reef, but it's for experts only.

By the 22nd of September, Tuesday afternoon, we get a nice 6-foot WNW swell with a moderate offshore wind. That’s a clean, manageable size for the advanced intermediate surfer, and the energy is still decent (1047).

So, to wrap it up: if you’re an expert, the absolute standout is Tuesday morning the 8th of September. For the strong intermediate or expert looking for a more manageable session, Sunday afternoon the 13th and Friday the 18th are your best bets. There’s a gap of poor surf from the 14th to the 17th, so pick your days.

The water temp here is about average for the time of year, nothin’ wild to report.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Wed afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the ESE by Sun afternoon).

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
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
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
!
!
!
2
2
4
2
0
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
W
11
3
WNW
11
2.5
NW
10
1.6
NNW
8
1.1
W
9
0.8
W
6
0.9
W
7
1.1
W
8
1.4
W
10
1.7
W
7
2.3
W
10
3.5
WNW
14
4
WNW
13
3.5
WNW
13
2.5
WNW
12
2.4
WNW
11
1.9
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
10
0.9
NNW
11
1.2
W
9
1.8
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2439
1710
1185
310
189
46
86
169
400
266
1152
5096
4915
3570
1854
1436
792
301
214
215
714
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
40
N
30
WNW
25
WNW
20
WNW
15
SSE
25
SSE
20
S
25
SW
35
W
35
WSW
30
SW
30
SSE
25
SSW
30
W
30
W
15
W
20
SSE
25
SW
5
S
20
SW
Wind State
off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
7:23AM4.42m
7:29PM4.65m
8:16AM4.69m
8:17PM4.95m
9:00AM4.89m
9:00PM5.19m
9:38AM5.00m
9:38PM5.31m
10:12AM5.01m
10:14PM5.32m
10:45AM4.94m
10:49PM5.21m
11:16AM4.81m
11:23PM5.00m
Low Tide
1:20PM1.99m
1:50AM1.36m
2:08PM1.71m
2:35AM1.05m
2:50PM1.49m
3:16AM0.87m
3:29PM1.34m
3:55AM0.82m
4:05PM1.28m
4:31AM0.90m
4:40PM1.32m
5:06AM1.09m
5:15PM1.44m
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:28
6:30
6:33
6:35
6:37
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:54
7:52
7:50
7:46
7:44
7:40
7:37
 mm
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
Temp °C
13
13
11
12
13
12
13
15
14
14
14
13
15
15
13
14
15
16
17
16
17
Feels °C
6
6
3
6
8
9
8
11
10
6
7
7
9
11
6
10
12
13
13
16
14
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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