Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,325 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with NW 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag around here, so let’s break it down.
To start, we’ve got a bit of a lull. The early part of the window is pretty grim. Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th see some size – around 7 to 8 feet – but the wind is up and cross, making it a messy, lumpy mess. Not worth your time. Then we hit a real flat spell. From Tuesday the 11th through to the 18th, the swell drops right out. We’re talking knee to waist-high dribble, with the odd clean morning but nothing with any push. There’s a day or two with a clean offshore breeze, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. That’s a solid week of not much happening.
Now, hold on to your boards, because things get interesting on Wednesday the 19th of August. The forecast is showing a proper pulse of groundswell rolling in from the WNW. The size is predicted to be a solid 10 feet, and the energy readings are huge, hitting 1924 in the morning. That’s strong, powerful stuff. The wind is looking cross-off, which should keep the face reasonably clean. This is the standout of the whole period. But, and it’s a big but, this is a reef break, and 10 feet of groundswell is a serious amount of water. This is not a day for the faint-hearted. This is one for the experts who know the reef well. The period is around 10 seconds, which is decent, but at that size, it’s going to be a heavy, powerful wave.
The swell hangs around for a few days after that, dropping through the 8-foot range on Thursday and 6 feet by Friday, but the wind turns cross and onshore, making it messy and choppy. Not the same quality as that Wednesday morning window. By the following weekend, the swell fades back down to the 5-foot range, and the conditions are still not great.
So, to wrap it up: you’ve got a week of nothing, then one, possibly two, windows of serious, powerful surf. The 19th is the one to circle, but it’s a big, expert-only wave. If you’re not on that level, this whole period doesn’t offer a whole lot to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 880 | 810 | 644 | 1310 | 826 | 374 | 143 | 84 | 28 | 61 | 75 | 49 | 87 | 61 | 68 | 30 | 109 | 30 | 344 | 237 | 86 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 5:55AM4.19m | 6:32PM4.36m | 7:16AM4.39m | 7:36PM4.63m | 8:20AM4.63m | 8:30PM4.91m | 9:12AM4.84m | 9:16PM5.15m | 9:57AM4.97m | 9:59PM5.31m | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | 11:18AM4.92m | 11:19PM5.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:22PM2.08m | 1:01AM1.85m | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:59AM1.47m | 2:19PM1.67m | 2:49AM1.13m | 3:05PM1.49m | 3:34AM0.89m | 3:48PM1.37m | 4:17AM0.79m | 4:28PM1.34m | 4:58AM0.82m | 5:07PM1.40m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:18 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:01 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 12 | SE 6 | S 6 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 6 | W 11 | W 11 | W 6 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 10 | N 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 26 | 24 | 110 | 1 | 1 | 374 | 143 | 84 | 28 | 61 | 75 | 21 | 87 | 61 | 39 | 20 | 15 | 30 | 5 | 237 | 86 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 10 | ESE 6 | N 11 | W 10 | W 10 | N 9 | N 8 | — | N 8 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 40 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 49 | 4 | 9 | 68 | 30 | 14 | 5 | — | 4 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 7 | N 8 | ESE 6 | N 10 | N 9 | SE 6 | E 5 | — | — | N 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | — | SSE 2 | SE 3 | SE 5 | S 3 | — | — | — | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 880 | 810 | 644 | 1310 | 826 | — | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | — | 44 | 109 | 84 | 344 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 180 | 1142 | 428 | 191 | 177 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 290 | 728 | 71 | 1 | 26 | 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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