Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.3° C
0.1° 

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 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period, W swell with 350 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. 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 1.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. 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 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Wed 12th Aug)1ft (0.3m) 12s
Best Surf10AM (Wed 12th Aug)1ft (0.3m) 12s
Most Powerful 7AM (Wed 19th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next stretch for Thurso Reef. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there are a couple of days that could get the heart pumping.

To start, the water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so nothing crazy there, just your usual wetsuit situation.

The first week is pretty grim, to be honest. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf with a lot of cross-shore and onshore winds. The energy is mostly in double digits, like 50 and 90, which is just weak stuff. There’s a brief pulse of moderate energy on Saturday the 15th afternoon, with 4ft of west swell and 226 of combined energy, but the wind is howling cross-shore from the WNW at 15 mph, messing it all up. It’s a write-off. The whole period from the 12th through the 18th is a bit of a wasteland for clean waves. We’re looking at a solid gap with no real recommendations.

Then things start to stir. On the 19th, we see a new groundswell filling in from the west with a 12-second period and moderate energy at 430. It’s still a little crossed-up in the morning, but the afternoon is ruined by a stronger cross-onshore wind. Not our day. The 20th brings a bigger pulse, around 7ft, but it’s short-period windswell from the north with poor conditions and onshore winds. That’s more of a washing machine than a surfable wave.

Now, for the standout. You need to look ahead to Monday, the 24th of August. This is the one. The forecast models are pointing to a proper, strong event. We’re talking a massive 15ft of west-northwest swell with a 10-second period. The combined energy reading is a staggering 3471, which is very strong. The wind and tide are looking favorable too, with a light breeze. However, and this is a big however, this is a reef break. Swell that size is not for the faint of heart, and at 15ft, it's pushing into expert-only territory. It’ll be way too big for your average punter, and even for the experienced crew, this could be a serious paddle.

Tuesday the 25th is also still huge, with 13ft of swell, but the winds look a bit more crossed. Still, the energy is immense. These two days are the real deal, but only if you are a seasoned pro looking for a challenge. For the rest of us, it’s a day to watch from the cliff.

The final days fade out quickly. After that beast, the swell drops right off. The 26th and 27th see the energy back down to the low hundreds and double digits again, with modest 4ft and 2ft waves and cross-off winds.

So, there you have it. A whole lot of nothing to start, a big, dangerous, and beautiful pulse right in the middle, and then a quick fade. That Monday the 24th looks like the one, but it's not for everyone. Keep an eye on the forecasts, as stuff this far out can change, but for now, that’s the picture.

Rusty, out.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
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)
0.3
W
12
0.6
W
11
0.4
WSW
10
0.4
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.6
W
10
0.7
W
10
0.5
N
10
0.4
N
9
0.4
W
9
1.2
W
8
1.3
WNW
8
1
N
8
1
N
8
0.8
N
7
0.6
N
7
0.4
W
9
0.9
W
8
0.4
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.5
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
24
82
32
41
57
71
90
45
25
26
200
223
131
124
70
34
26
109
21
10
29
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
5
WNW
10
S
10
SE
10
E
5
WNW
20
WNW
25
WNW
20
W
25
W
25
WNW
20
NW
15
NW
10
NNW
15
SSE
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
SE
25
SE
30
SE
20
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
9:12AM4.84m
9:16PM5.15m
9:57AM4.97m
9:59PM5.31m
10:39AM4.99m
10:40PM5.35m
11:18AM4.92m
11:19PM5.28m
11:55AM4.77m
11:57PM5.10m
12:32PM4.57m
00:36AM4.83m
1:10PM4.35m
1:17AM4.51m
Low Tide
3:05PM1.49m
3:34AM0.89m
3:48PM1.37m
4:17AM0.79m
4:28PM1.34m
4:58AM0.82m
5:07PM1.40m
5:37AM0.98m
5:45PM1.53m
6:16AM1.25m
6:23PM1.74m
6:55AM1.57m
7:03PM1.99m
cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:26
5:28
5:31
5:33
5:35
5:37
5:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:09
9:07
9:05
9:01
8:59
8:57
8:53
 mm
1
1
3
10
1
5
2
1
3
1
Temp °C
22
24
21
19
20
17
16
15
13
14
14
12
12
12
11
12
11
11
13
13
13
Feels °C
20
24
21
19
20
19
13
11
10
9
10
8
10
10
8
9
8
8
7
9
10
  • 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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