Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with 400 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s heading to Thurso Reef.
We start on Tuesday, July 7th, with small but clean surf. Swell is 3ft out of the west, and the big news is the glassy morning – dead calm. Period hits 9 seconds. Water temp is 54°, right on average for the season. Combined swell energy is moderate (232). The afternoon stays tidy with a light cross-off breeze from the southeast, swell holding at 3ft.
Wednesday the 8th drops off. Morning sees 3ft west swell with light cross-off wind. Surfable, but ordinary. Energy slips to 121 by afternoon and a cross-shore adds chop.
Thursday the 9th is the pick of the early run. Morning brings 4ft west swell with a light cross-off from the west-southwest, clean conditions, and energy back to 245. The afternoon is wrecked by an onshore breeze.
Friday the 10th through Sunday the 12th is a dead zone – small swell, messy winds, poor surf. Weak energy all around. This flat spell runs a few days.
Next glimmer comes Tuesday, July 14th, with another glassy morning. Swell is 4ft out of the west, 10 second period, energy 242. It’s clean but get it early – the afternoon goes cross-onshore.
After that, it’s all downhill. From July 15th onward, swell is 3ft or smaller, mostly poor conditions. By July 22nd, winds are gusting over 25 mph with tiny swell. That’s kite country, not paddle surfing.
Standout session: Thursday morning, July 9th. 4ft west swell, light offshore, moderate energy – the reef will handle it nicely. Tuesday morning, July 14th is a backup if you want glass, but the size is a bit less.
This reef can fire, but the next two weeks are mostly about waiting.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 152 | 159 | 287 | 106 | 202 | 147 | 225 | 276 | 184 | 74 | 400 | 332 | 273 | 173 | 126 | 68 | 41 | 31 | 29 | 57 | 222 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:30PM4.17m | 2:32AM4.42m | 3:28PM4.15m | 3:34AM4.35m | 4:32PM4.19m | 4:44AM4.32m | 5:39PM4.30m | 5:57AM4.37m | 6:43PM4.48m | 7:09AM4.50m | 7:42PM4.70m | 8:15AM4.66m | 8:36PM4.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:23PM2.27m | 9:06AM1.88m | 9:27PM2.34m | 10:13AM1.93m | 10:45PM2.31m | 11:26AM1.91m | 00:02AM2.14m | 12:33PM1.81m | 1:08AM1.85m | 1:33PM1.67m | 2:06AM1.53m | 2:27PM1.53m | 2:58AM1.22m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 4:16 | — | — | 4:18 | — | — | 4:18 | — | — | 4:20 | — | — | 4:22 | — | — | 4:24 | — | — | 4:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:20 | — | — | 10:19 | — | — | 10:16 | — | — | 10:15 | — | — | 10:15 | — | — | 10:14 | — | — | 10:12 |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | N 7 | W 9 | N 6 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 152 | 159 | 36 | 106 | 7 | 147 | 225 | 276 | 184 | 74 | 400 | 332 | 273 | 173 | 126 | 68 | 41 | 31 | 29 | 57 | 222 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | — | N 7 | N 6 | W 9 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | W 12 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | — | W 21 | WNW 12 | W 20 |
| kJ | 80 | 54 | — | 15 | 1 | 85 | 20 | 20 | 9 | 73 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | 9 | 15 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | NNE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | W 5 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | SE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 287 | 37 | 202 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 71 | 28 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 24 | 41 | 9 | 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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