Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.9°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 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, W swell with 5,378 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 1st Sep)4ft (1.2m) 6s
Best Surf 4PM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 7PM (Fri 4th Sep)15ft (4.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m only looking at what’s here for Thurso Reef. No comparisons, no guesses.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first couple of days are pretty much a write-off. Monday 31st August and Tuesday 1st September offer up tiny, messy stuff with no real energy to speak of. Not worth paddling out for. Wednesday 2nd September sees a jump in size – 8 ft sets from the NNW – but it’s all cross-shore wind and lumpy. The combined energy is strong at 1242 but the conditions aren’t playing ball. It’s a reef break, so that longer period (10 seconds) will give it some shape, but it’s not clean enough to get excited about.

Honestly, the first real standout arrives on Friday 4th September. Thursday morning gives us a clean 6 ft from the west with a solid 11-second period, but that’s just a warm-up. Friday afternoon – that’s where it gets serious. The swell jumps to 12 ft from the west, period stretching to 13 seconds, and the combined energy is through the roof at 3624. The wind is clean, offshore-west-southwest at 28 mph. Now, that’s proper heavy. 12 ft at Thurso Reef is expert territory. This is not for the faint-hearted. It’s going to be a big, powerful, grinding reef wave. If you’ve got the skills and the nerve, this is the session to chase. Saturday morning 5th September isn’t far behind at 10 ft from the WNW, but the cross-shore wind will make it lumpy.

After that, we drift into smaller, cleaner but less powerful stuff through to around Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th September. A 7 ft clean set on Tuesday 8th morning is surfable but nothing special. Wednesday 9th September afternoon brings another big pulse – 10 ft from the WNW with clean offshore south winds. That’s another heavy one, again for experts only. That pattern repeats: big, clean swell for the experienced crew, then smaller stuff.

Jumping ahead to Saturday 12th September – that’s a real hidden gem. Morning has 6 ft from the north with a 12-second period and light south winds. Glassy conditions. Combined energy is 916, which is solid moderate, and the water will feel about normal for the time of year, with the anomaly sitting at 0.9°. That’s a beautiful, clean, mid-range day at a reef. Not too big, not too small. Good shape. Crowds are possible here – it says “sometimes” – but on a Saturday with that forecast, you might have company.

Later, Tuesday 15th September sees the biggest numbers of the whole run. 13 ft in the morning and 12 ft in the afternoon from the WNW, all with 11 to 13-second periods. Combined energy hits 3967 and then a massive 5240. That’s a full-on, big-wave event. Offshore winds keep it clean, but this is only for the most experienced. That’s the final big hurrah in the outlook.

Overall, the clear standout is Friday 4th September afternoon for the big-wave hunters, and Saturday 12th September morning for those who want a solid, clean session without getting smashed. The rest of the period is either too small, too messy, or too big. There are no consistent run of great days here – it’s a pick-your-moment kinda deal.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Fri night, light winds from the S by Sat night).

Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
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
0
1
0
0
0
2
3
1
0
1
1
3
!
0
!
2
1
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
W
9
0.4
N
6
1.2
WNW
6
0.7
W
6
1.9
W
6
1.7
WNW
6
2.5
NNW
10
2.3
NNW
10
1.7
N
10
1.1
N
9
0.9
N
9
1.3
W
7
1.7
W
11
3.5
W
13
4
W
9
3
WNW
11
2.5
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
9
1.3
WNW
8
0.7
NW
8
1.2
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
15
12
119
35
291
245
1184
1124
596
207
125
148
673
3612
2413
1847
1245
510
227
69
190
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
30
WNW
15
S
35
S
30
W
30
WNW
25
WNW
5
ENE
20
ESE
25
WSW
20
SW
20
SW
30
SSW
45
WSW
50
WNW
30
WNW
25
W
25
SE
30
SW
25
SW
40
W
Wind State
glassy
cross
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
11:13AM4.82m
11:19PM5.06m
11:47AM4.72m
11:55PM4.92m
12:25PM4.57m
00:38AM4.69m
1:11PM4.38m
1:32AM4.40m
2:10PM4.17m
2:47AM4.12m
3:31PM4.04m
4:29AM4.01m
5:06PM4.09m
Low Tide
5:17PM1.45m
5:43AM1.23m
5:54PM1.57m
6:21AM1.42m
6:34PM1.76m
7:04AM1.70m
7:23PM1.99m
7:57AM2.02m
8:29PM2.21m
9:12AM2.31m
10:04PM2.29m
10:53AM2.41m
11:44PM2.10m
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
clear
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
cloud
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:11
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:18
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:17
8:15
8:12
8:09
8:07
8:04
8:00
 mm
2
1
1
9
2
1
1
7
1
Temp °C
16
13
13
15
14
11
11
12
14
17
16
12
13
14
12
14
13
14
18
17
14
Feels °C
14
7
9
9
7
3
5
10
11
12
12
7
7
5
1
7
7
8
14
14
7
  • 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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