Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.5°C
0.9° 

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 12 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 25ft (7.5m), 14s period, W swell with 21,874 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period. 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 7.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 12th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 12th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sun 20th Sep)25ft (7.5m) 14s

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’s brewing for Thurso Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the water is sitting at 56°, which is about 2° different from the long-term average – so, pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The first bit of surf worth paddling out for kicks off on Saturday the 12th. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell rolling in from the WNW with a 13-second period. That's a good groundswell, and with the combined energy reading 2219 (moderate to strong) there's plenty of push. The wind is a fresh offshore from the SW in the morning, keeping things clean, and the tide could be a bit funky but it’s surfable. Saturday afternoon the swell jumps to 10ft WNW with even more energy (3242). The wind shifts to a cross-off from the WNW. It’s clean, but this size is getting up there – too big for beginners, still good for intermediates who are confident.

Sunday the 13th is where we might see the pick of the first week. Morning brings 7ft WNW at 11 seconds, combined energy at 979 (moderate). A gentle cross-off breeze keeps the surface tidy. But the real standout is Sunday afternoon: the swell drops a bit to 6ft WNW with a 10-second period, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm from the north. That’s clean as a whistle (732 combined energy). This is when you want to be out there, as the waves will have shape and the crowd is possible, so get in early.

Monday the 14th sees smaller waves. Morning is 3ft NNW with a 12-second period (385 combined energy) – not much to get excited about. The afternoon picks up a touch with 5ft W at 9 seconds (539) and a light SSW offshore, but it’s not firing.

Tuesday the 15th has a 7ft WNW in the morning with a 10-second period (1001 energy) and a cross-off wind. It’s a bit lumpy though, so not a standout. Afternoon goes flat with poor conditions.

Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th are pretty grim – small, messy, cross-onshore winds. Not worth the wetsuit.

Friday the 18th through to the end of the forecast window is where things get interesting, but only for the experienced crew. From Friday the 18th right through to Wednesday the 23rd, we’ve got a huge run of solid to XXL swell. Friday morning hits 12ft WNW with a 13-second period and 4318 combined energy (strong). The wind is offshore from the WSW, so it’s clean, but this size is too big for anyone but experts. Saturday the 19th keeps up the 10–12ft WNW swells with strong offshore winds. The combined energy stays well above 2000. Sunday the 20th is the biggest of the bunch – 15ft WNW in the morning (8559 energy, very strong) with a 14-second period. The wind is howling at 28 mph from the west, creating a cross-off. This is serious, powerful surf – not for the faint-hearted.

Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd stay huge, well over 13ft, with offshore winds and clean conditions, but again, only for the experts. The combined energy readings are through the roof, over 4000 each session.

Wednesday the 23rd finally drops down to a manageable 5ft W at 10 seconds (579 energy) with a light cross-off breeze. This is the first day in a week that might be comfortable for intermediates again.

Then Thursday the 24th is another absolute monster – 28ft WNW with a 13-second period (23088 combined energy). That’s enormous, and unless you’re a tow-in charger, it’s a spectator day. Friday the 25th is still big at 8ft WNW but with a strong cross-off wind – marginal at best.

Saturday the 26th is small and sloppy, and Sunday the 27th is a write-off with near-gale force winds and huge, messy 10ft WNW swells from the west with a 15–16 second period (over 4000 energy). Not surfable.

So, the standout sessions? Sunday the 13th afternoon – glassy, clean, 6ft WNW swell – that’s your best bet for the whole forecast. If you’re an expert and want a big, clean challenge, the run from Friday the 18th to Sunday the 20th offers some incredible, powerful groundswell, but it’s not for the average surfer.

Overall, there’s a week of small to moderate surf starting Saturday the 12th, then a long gap of huge, expert-only swell from Friday the 18th to Wednesday the 23rd, before it drops back down. Plan your sessions carefully.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Tue night, light winds from the SSW by Wed night).

Sat
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
3
3
3
1
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
!
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WNW
13
3
WNW
12
2
WNW
11
1.7
WNW
10
1.2
WNW
10
0.9
NNW
12
0.9
NNW
12
1.2
W
11
1
W
11
2.3
NW
6
1.8
NNW
6
1.8
NNW
8
1.3
W
11
1.4
NNW
9
1.6
W
8
2
W
8
4.5
WNW
15
4
WNW
14
3
WNW
13
3
W
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3441
2067
938
607
282
250
228
317
220
375
246
373
379
318
339
542
8347
5808
3193
2590
Wind (km/h)
40
WNW
20
W
15
WSW
5
NW
15
SSE
20
S
10
SW
10
E
10
W
35
NW
35
NW
30
NW
30
WNW
20
SSE
35
W
30
W
25
W
25
SW
30
SSW
30
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
10:14PM5.32m
10:45AM4.94m
10:49PM5.21m
11:16AM4.81m
11:23PM5.00m
11:47AM4.64m
11:58PM4.71m
12:19PM4.44m
00:35AM4.38m
12:56PM4.22m
1:21AM4.04m
1:43PM4.00m
2:27AM3.75m
Low Tide
4:05PM1.28m
4:31AM0.90m
4:40PM1.32m
5:06AM1.09m
5:15PM1.44m
5:39AM1.36m
5:50PM1.64m
6:12AM1.69m
6:27PM1.89m
6:47AM2.04m
7:09PM2.16m
7:27AM2.38m
8:04PM2.43m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:39
6:41
6:43
6:46
6:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:44
7:40
7:37
7:35
7:31
7:29
7:25
 mm
1
11
4
4
1
4
1
1
Temp °C
14
12
14
14
14
18
17
14
14
12
12
10
11
11
13
13
12
13
14
13
Feels °C
7
7
10
12
10
15
16
13
12
6
7
3
4
6
6
7
7
6
8
6
  • 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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