
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with 4,419 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break this down, Rusty here. We’re looking at Thurso Reef for the next couple weeks, and I’ll give it to you straight.
Right now, it’s a tough start. Friday the 11th is a miss – looks clean with a 2.2m swell out of the west, but that cross-offshore wind is cranking at 35 km/h and the energy reading is only 470 (weak). It’s just wonky. Saturday the 12th is even worse – a big 3.0m west swell with a 13-second period and near gale-force winds. The swell energy jumps to 2980 (strong), but it’s way too big and blown out for a normal paddle. More of a kite day.
Then we get a sweet spot. Sunday morning, the 13th, things calm down. We’ve got a 1.9m swell from the west-northwest with a nice 11-second period and a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the southwest at only 15 km/h. The combined energy is 933 (moderate). The forecast reads “very good surf conditions.” For a reef break with that offshore wind direction, this is the best of the whole run. The water temp is about average for this time of year in Scotland, so bring the rubber. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so expect some company.
Monday the 14th is clean but small – 1.0m swell from the north-northwest, offshore south winds at 20 km/h, energy at 414 (moderate). It’s there but not special. From Tuesday the 15th through Wednesday the 16th, it’s all poor again with onshore and cross-onshore winds, so don’t bother.
Thursday the 17th gives a little tease – a 2.2m west swell with a 9-second period and cross-offshore winds, energy of 848 (moderate). Could be okay for an intermediate. But then the beast comes. Friday the 18th through Saturday the 19th sees huge, oversized waves – 3.5m to 6.0m out of the west with very long periods (12–15 seconds) and constant fresh cross-offshore winds. The combined energy is enormous – 16477 for that Saturday afternoon. These are expert-only, no question. Too big for beginners and most regular surfers.
The second week is a relentless run of heavy, stormy, or blown-out conditions. Sunday the 20th has a 5.5m west swell with 90 km/h storm-force cross-shore winds – total chaos. Monday the 21st, Tuesday the 22nd, and beyond are all solid sized – 4.0m to 5.0m – but the winds are cross-off or cross-shore, and the energy numbers are off the charts. Nothing clean or rideable. Thursday the 24th offers a 3.5m north-northwest swell with a light offshore south breeze at 10 km/h (energy 3500 – strong), but that’s still too big for most. Friday the 25th drops to 1.7m to 2.0m but with lumpy cross-winds.
The bottom line: the only real standout is Sunday morning, September 13th. That’s your window. After that, it’s a week and a half of either too small, too windy, or too damn big. Not much else to say.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the NNW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the NNW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | W 13 | W 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
469 | 497 | 882 | 2972 | 3333 | 1619 | 823 | 530 | 387 | 308 | 246 | 311 | 229 | 296 | 192 | 224 | 387 | 375 | 775 | 4419 | 3513 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:38AM5.00m | 9:38PM5.31m | 10:12AM5.01m | 10:14PM5.32m | 10:45AM4.94m | 10:49PM5.21m | 11:16AM4.81m | 11:23PM5.00m | 11:47AM4.64m | 11:58PM4.71m | 12:19PM4.44m | 00:35AM4.38m | 12:56PM4.22m | 1:21AM4.04m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:29PM1.34m | 3:55AM0.82m | 4:05PM1.28m | 4:31AM0.90m | 4:40PM1.32m | 5:06AM1.09m | 5:15PM1.44m | 5:39AM1.36m | 5:50PM1.64m | 6:12AM1.69m | 6:27PM1.89m | 6:47AM2.04m | 7:09PM2.16m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 11 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | W 10 | W 10 | N 9 | SE 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | NNW 7 | W 9 | N 9 | W 13 | W 13 |
2 | 165 | 882 | 6 | 7 | 1619 | 823 | 530 | 282 | 308 | 215 | 311 | 229 | 296 | 192 | 224 | 114 | 375 | 73 | 4419 | 3513 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | SE 7 | WNW 14 | SE 6 | N 9 | — | NNW 14 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | WNW 9 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | N 11 | N 10 | SE 6 | N 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | N 8 | N 8 |
1 | 2 | 371 | 58 | 2 | — | 110 | 297 | 387 | 106 | 246 | 161 | 112 | 73 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 132 | — | 34 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | — | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | S 6 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | — | 5 | 5 | — | 1 | 7 | 24 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 3 | W 13 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 3 | WSW 4 | S 3 | WNW 4 | — | NW 5 | NNW 6 | W 11 | SSW 3 | W 9 | WNW 13 | — |
469 | 497 | 2 | 2972 | 3333 | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 20 | — | 91 | 87 | 387 | 4 | 775 | 3042 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 579 | 26 | 0 | 423 | 389 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 9 | 141 | 523 | 523 | 523 | 0 | 1 | 349 | 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.










