
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, W swell with 10,719 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s 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 (Sep 16) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. 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 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Thurso Reef over the next couple of weeks. This is a classic reef that loves a good NW swell, but we’ve got a lot of oversized conditions ahead.
The surf kicks off Tuesday, 15th September, and the first couple of days are pretty poor. Tuesday morning has a weak 3ft W swell at 11 seconds, but that cross-on NW wind at 12 mph is making a mess. The combined energy is weak at 330. Choppy and not worth it. Tuesday afternoon is the same story.
Wednesday the 16th morning is still messy with a 4ft W swell and cross-winds. But the afternoon? The wind shifts cross-offshore from the WSW at 9 mph, cleaning it right up. That 4ft W swell at 11 seconds has a combined energy of 638 – moderate. It’ll be clean and fun for an intermediate surfer, but not the standout.
Now things get heavy. From Thursday the 17th through the end of the week, the swell just keeps building and gets too big for this reef. Thursday morning has an 8ft W swell at 10 seconds (energy 1034), with a strong 22 mph offshore SW wind keeping it clean – but 8ft is pushing it for most. By the afternoon, we’re looking at 10ft W swell at 11 seconds (energy 1982), and it’s marked as too big.
Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th are massive – 15ft and 12ft WNW swells with 13-second periods, energy in the thousands. Cross-offshore winds keep it clean, but this is strictly for experts. Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st stay in the 10ft to 12ft range with strong winds. Too big.
Now, here’s the best window. Monday the 21st morning and afternoon drop to a manageable 8ft and 7ft W swell at 11 seconds, with light 6 mph winds – offshore in the morning, cross-off in the afternoon – keeping it clean. The combined energy is solid (1389 and 1087 – moderate to strong), and the forecast says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is the standout. Crowds are “sometimes” around, so you might see a few others, but it won’t be a zoo. If you’ve got the skill, Monday is your day.
Tuesday the 22nd morning drops to 5ft, but the period is short at 10 seconds, and the wind is a bit breezier at 12 mph. It’s clean but not as good. Tuesday afternoon jumps back to 8ft but with a massive 16-second period – that’s a very long-period groundswell. Combined energy is 3742, strong, but that high period can make it a bit straight – still, on a reef, it could be fun. Just note a cross-shore wind will add a little chop.
Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th are back to huge swells – 10ft to 13ft – too big for the break.
Friday the 25th morning is more user-friendly with a 5ft W swell at 11 seconds, clean offshore winds from the SE at 9 mph. Energy is 985 – moderate. Good for a relaxed session on a longboard.
Then from Saturday the 26th of September, it’s massive again – 13ft and 12ft WNW swells with 14-second periods, energy in the five-to-six-thousands. For experts only.
Sunday the 27th and Monday the 28th morning drop right off – 2ft to 4ft with weak energy – flat and poor. But Monday afternoon? 16ft W swell at 9 seconds, energy 3612. That’s a big messy cross-shore wind swell – not surfable.
The last couple of days, Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday the 30th, stay too big with 16ft and 6ft swells – all too big.
So, overall, there’s a ton of swell, but most of it is too raw. The clear winner is Monday the 21st of September – that 7ft to 8ft W swell with light, clean winds is going to give you some great, clean waves. If you’re experienced, mark that date.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed afternoon, strong winds from the W by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sat night, light winds from the S by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 11 | W 10 | NW 6 | W 12 | W 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
220 | 192 | 222 | 403 | 329 | 370 | 998 | 1962 | 9997 | 7028 | 4008 | 1850 | 1752 | 2124 | 3650 | 4227 | 3249 | 1935 | 1389 | 1086 | 656 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:47AM4.64m | 11:58PM4.71m | 12:19PM4.44m | 00:35AM4.38m | 12:56PM4.22m | 1:21AM4.04m | 1:43PM4.00m | 2:27AM3.75m | 2:54PM3.82m | 4:08AM3.61m | 4:32PM3.79m | 5:51AM3.71m | 5:57PM3.94m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:50PM1.64m | 6:12AM1.69m | 6:27PM1.89m | 6:47AM2.04m | 7:09PM2.16m | 7:27AM2.38m | 8:04PM2.43m | 8:25AM2.67m | 9:34PM2.60m | 10:12AM2.82m | 11:27PM2.52m | 11:54AM2.69m | 00:34AM2.26m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 7:35 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:17 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | N 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | W 11 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 12 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | — | WNW 12 | — | N 8 | W 10 |
220 | 192 | 25 | 331 | 229 | 112 | 31 | 1962 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 1850 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 1935 | — | 1 | 656 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 10 | SE 6 | SE 6 | W 11 | SE 4 | SE 5 | N 8 | — | — | — | N 8 | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 |
96 | 68 | 1 | 2 | 329 | 6 | 4 | 20 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | SE 6 | — | — | NW 8 | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | 1 | — | — | 80 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 6 | W 12 | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | SSW 5 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SSW 4 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | — | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 3 |
14 | 20 | 222 | 403 | — | 370 | 998 | 44 | 9997 | 7028 | 4008 | 8 | 1752 | 2124 | 3650 | 4227 | 3249 | — | 1389 | 1086 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 71 | 1092 | 775 | 206 | 0 | 392 | 413 | 617 | 617 | 423 | 423 | 423 | 645 | 804 | 594 | 413 | 347 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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.










