Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,291 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with NW 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 (Aug 10) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s talk turkey. It’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. Water temp is around 56°, which is normal for this time of year, no surprises there.
The first chance we get starts on Saturday the 8th. We’ve got a mix of west and northwest swells pushing in around the 6 to 8ft mark. The energy is moderate, readings of 610 to 992. The problem is the fresh southwesterly winds, blowing at 20-25 mph. They are offshore, which is good, but they’re strong, making it a raw, intense session. You’ll want to know the reef.
Sunday the 9th sees the swell nudge up to just under 8ft, with energy reading 1011. Still from the west with a short 9-second period, but the wind goes cross-off. It’s a bit more civilized, but the short period will keep things lumpy.
Now Monday the 10th is the one with the size. Swell at 8ft from the northwest, with strong energy of 1127. That’s the right direction for the reef. But the wind is a fresh cross-shore, which will make the surface messy. This is big and powerful, definitely for experts only. It’s not going to be a fun paddle.
Then the taps turn off. There’s a huge gap of poor options from Tuesday the 11th. We see a big drop in swell energy, readings falling into the low hundreds. Even when it goes glassy on the 13th, the waves are tiny and weak. The energy just isn't there. This flat spell lasts for a solid week and a half.
We do get a flicker of hope on Sunday the 23rd. The swell comes back to a little over 3ft from the west, with energy around 234. The winds look like they’ll be cross-off and clean. It’s got potential for a longboard, but it’s 11 days away, so we treat that as a hope, not a certainty.
So, what’s the call? If you’re desperate for a wave, the 8th and 9th are your best bet. There’s size, but you’ll work for it. If you can wait, the 23rd looks like a much nicer, cleaner session, just without the grunt. The big, windy swell on the 10th might be a better vibe for the kite crew than the paddle crew, to be honest.
The water’s open, the reef’s waiting. I’ll see you out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 7 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | N 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 797 | 522 | 880 | 865 | 883 | 1157 | 767 | 366 | 140 | 84 | 28 | 61 | 104 | 33 | 85 | 74 | 125 | 26 | 24 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | off | off | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:15PM4.16m | 5:55AM4.19m | 6:32PM4.36m | 7:16AM4.39m | 7:36PM4.63m | 8:20AM4.63m | 8:30PM4.91m | 9:12AM4.84m | 9:16PM5.15m | 9:57AM4.97m | 9:59PM5.31m | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:47PM2.18m | 12:22PM2.08m | 1:01AM1.85m | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:59AM1.47m | 2:19PM1.67m | 2:49AM1.13m | 3:05PM1.49m | 3:34AM0.89m | 3:48PM1.37m | 4:17AM0.79m | 4:28PM1.34m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 |
mm | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | SE 6 | S 6 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 7 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 7 | WNW 6 | N 8 |
| kJ | 797 | 28 | 26 | 14 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 366 | 140 | 84 | 28 | 61 | 104 | 33 | 85 | 74 | 125 | 26 | 24 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | SE 7 | N 9 | N 8 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 10 | W 6 | N 11 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 29 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 41 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 17 | 27 | 21 | 31 | 26 | 14 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | ESE 5 | S 3 | N 8 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | WSW 10 | W 9 | SE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | — | SSE 2 | SE 3 | SE 5 | S 3 | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 522 | 880 | 865 | 883 | 1157 | 767 | — | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | 44 | — | — | — | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 413 | 423 | 413 | 347 | 165 | 423 | 290 | 191 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1102 |
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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