Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, W swell with 457 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down for Thurso Reef. It’s a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but there are a couple of windows that are worth paddling out for.
Right now, the surf is flat and messy. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions starting Monday the 17th through the end of the week. That’s six days of small, weak, and choppy waves with cross-shore winds. The swell energy is low, around 82 (moderate wave energy), and the water is sitting at 57°, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual.
The first real glimmer of hope comes early on Tuesday the 25th. The morning brings a clean, offshore wind from the SSW at 6 mph, with a 4ft swell from the west, period around 9 seconds. That’s solid groundswell, good shape, and the wind is perfect. The combined energy is up at 289 (moderate wave energy), and this is a reef break that’s exposed to the northwest, so it’s lining up nicely. This is the standout session – clean, punchy, and the crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might get a few heads out, but it’s worth it. The afternoon holds up too, with a 4ft swell and a 10-second period, still clean.
There’s another promising morning on Saturday the 29th. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the NNW, period short at 7 seconds, but the wind is light and cross-off from the SE at 6 mph. The combined energy jumps to 416 (moderate wave energy), so there’s plenty of push. That’s a bit punchy for beginners, but for the experienced crew, it’s a solid option. The short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony, but the reef should still offer up some good walls.
After that, the long-range stuff on Tuesday the 1st of September looks big – 10ft swell from the west, but with a period of just 8 seconds and cross-shore winds. The energy is massive at 1248 (strong wave energy), but the report flags it as too big for this break. That’s one for the experts only, and honestly, with the wind, it’s probably going to be a washing machine. Best to leave that one alone.
Overall, the best bet is Tuesday the 25th. Clean, offshore, decent swell, and the break is consistent enough to deliver. The Saturday the 29th is a good backup, but it’s a bit more raw. The rest of the window is a write-off, so pick your days.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 7 | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 38 | 41 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 103 | 387 | 272 | 133 | 134 | 148 | 151 | 126 | 80 | 106 | 87 | 77 | 62 | 34 | 103 | 78 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 1:10PM4.35m | 1:17AM4.51m | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | 3:54PM3.84m | 4:38AM3.72m | 5:18PM3.86m | 6:14AM3.76m | 6:34PM4.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:23PM1.74m | 6:55AM1.57m | 7:03PM1.99m | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | 9:29AM2.54m | 10:25PM2.60m | 11:03AM2.65m | 00:01AM2.49m | 12:23PM2.55m | 1:05AM2.25m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:39 | — |
mm | — | — | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 4 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | N 8 | NE 7 | W 7 | NNE 9 | N 7 | N 6 | NNE 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 38 | 38 | 23 | 22 | 6 | 74 | 387 | 272 | 133 | 71 | 46 | 25 | 13 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 12 | 13 | 78 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | N 7 | W 12 | N 7 | N 7 | — | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 8 | NNE 8 | W 9 | N 6 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 13 | 41 | 22 | 12 | 17 | 103 | 24 | 1 | — | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | — | 6 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | ESE 5 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | NE 7 | W 10 | W 10 | NNE 8 | N 6 | N 5 |
| kJ | 31 | 7 | 3 | — | 9 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 7 | ESE 3 | ESE 5 | — | — | ENE 4 | NNE 7 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | 7 | 39 | — | — | 11 | 53 | 92 | 134 | 148 | 151 | 126 | 80 | 106 | 87 | 77 | 62 | 34 | 103 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 9 | 41 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 73 | 31 | 364 | 357 | 757 | 225 | 191 | 255 | 218 | 218 | 255 | 53 | 71 | 71 | 0 |
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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