Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.7°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 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, W swell with 6,783 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s 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 05) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s 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 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 5th Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Best Surf 7PM (Mon 7th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful10PM (Mon 7th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Thurso Reef over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 56.7°F, which is just about normal for this time of year. Nothing weird there.

Honestly, the start of this outlook is a bit of a bust. Saturday the 5th kicks off with a massive 11.5ft WNW swell, but it’s being hammered by a strong cross-shore wind and the whole thing is messy. The combined energy is strong at 1505, but it’s not really one for a paddle. Saturday afternoon cleans up a bit wind-wise, but the surf is still just marginal. Sunday the 6th is tiny, Monday the 7th has a bit of size but the quality is ordinary, and then Tuesday the 8th is just a write-off with a near gale and a 19.7ft wall of chaos – that’s a 9366 energy reading, proper angry ocean. Wednesday the 9th is still ugly. So, we’re looking at a few days of nothing much worth getting excited about through the start of the week.

Now, things start to look a bit better on Thursday the 10th. It’s small, only 2.3ft, with a light offshore breeze and clean conditions. Not a standout, but at least you could get a few soft ones.

But the real standout in this whole 16-day window is Saturday the 12th of September. That morning you’ve got a solid 4.9ft swell from the W with a 10-second period, combined energy of 796 – moderate but enough to have some push – and it’s clean with a light breeze. Then by the afternoon, it goes glassy, completely flat wind, the swell bumps up to 5.9ft and the period stretches to 11 seconds. This is going to be the cleanest, most lined-up surf of the whole run. Just be aware, crowds are possible here so get in early.

Another one to keep an eye on is Thursday the 17th of September. The morning swell is predicted to be 9.8ft from the WNW with a good period, but the file notes it might be a bit too big for this break. However, Thursday afternoon is where it’s at for experienced surfers: 6.9ft from the W, a 10-second period, clean offshore wind, and an energy reading of 1415. This is serious, powerful reef surf. If you’re not comfortable in heavy water, give it a miss, but for the experts, that’s the session of the run.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th have some size and clean conditions, but the winds are not ideal, either cross-off or strong. Friday the 18th drops off, and Saturday the 19th has some 8.2ft swell but with a fresh breeze making it messy. Sunday the 20th looks like a write-off again with rain and strong wind.

So, if you’re paddling out, your best bet is Saturday the 12th for the clean, user-friendly waves. For the big dogs, Thursday the 17th afternoon is the one to circle on the calendar. A bit of a slow start, but it finishes with a bang.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun night, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sat night, strong winds from the WSW by Tue morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Wed night).

Sat
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
1
0
0
1
3
!
!
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
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)
2.5
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
9
0.9
W
9
0.7
W
8
1.2
WSW
10
1.3
W
8
2.2
W
13
4
W
14
3
W
12
3
WNW
11
3.5
NW
10
2.5
NNW
8
1.9
NW
8
0.8
W
8
0.7
W
8
0.6
W
7
1
W
9
1.3
W
8
0.1
N
6
2.1
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1243
516
117
68
294
207
1558
5450
2151
1949
2248
875
418
84
55
40
159
234
1
496
Wind (km/h)
30
WNW
10
S
25
SE
25
SSE
35
WSW
25
SW
30
S
40
SSW
45
SW
55
NW
40
NW
35
NNW
25
NW
15
W
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
25
SW
35
W
35
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
4:29AM4.01m
5:06PM4.09m
6:11AM4.14m
6:28PM4.33m
7:23AM4.42m
7:29PM4.65m
8:16AM4.69m
8:17PM4.95m
9:00AM4.89m
9:00PM5.19m
9:38AM5.00m
9:38PM5.31m
Low Tide
10:04PM2.29m
10:53AM2.41m
11:44PM2.10m
12:19PM2.25m
00:56AM1.73m
1:20PM1.99m
1:50AM1.36m
2:08PM1.71m
2:35AM1.05m
2:50PM1.49m
3:16AM0.87m
3:29PM1.34m
3:55AM0.82m
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:24
6:26
6:28
6:30
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:04
8:00
7:58
7:54
7:52
7:50
7:46
 mm
5
6
2
2
2
5
2
1
2
1
2
Temp °C
13
12
16
17
18
15
13
12
13
12
12
13
13
12
14
13
13
14
13
13
Feels °C
6
10
12
13
13
8
7
4
4
1
4
8
8
8
10
9
9
10
6
7
  • 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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