Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NW swell with 1,800 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with NNW 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s is also forecast. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this straight. For the next 16 days, looking at Thurso Reef, it’s a real mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch of ordinary to poor conditions, but there is one standout that’s got my heart racing.
Right now, and for the next several days, it’s a write-off. The wind is all over the place, onshore, cross-shore, choppy, and the wave heights are tiny. The combined energy is weak, sitting around 263 or less. It’s not worth paddling out for.
Tuesday morning, the 5th of August, has a bit of a lift with a 4ft swell from the NE, but the wind is cross-onshore at 15 mph, making it choppy. Not worth it.
Then we get to Sunday, the 9th of August. That’s the one. The forecast is showing a significant 10ft swell from the NW, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1800, meaning there’s a lot of power in the water. The wind is cross-shore at 18 mph, which isn't ideal, but it’s a big, powerful NW swell. But, and this is a big but, the forecast says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That means it’s for experts only, and even then, it might be a washing machine. The wind is going to be fresh and lumpy, so it won’t be clean. Later that Sunday afternoon, the swell drops to 8ft from the NNW, and the energy is still high at 1670, but the conditions are marginal.
The following Monday, the 10th of August, still has a solid 7ft NW swell, but the wind is light and cross-onshore, and the energy is 1182. Looks like a bit of a mess.
After that, it really drops off. The rest of the week is a mix of small, weak swells, and the wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, but the waves are just too small. A few days of 2ft to 3ft with light winds, but nothing to get excited about.
The last few days of the outlook, from the 15th of August onwards, are all poor. The wind is howling from the west at 25 mph, and the swell is small or onshore. It’s a complete washout.
So, the real moment is that Sunday, the 9th of August. A massive 10ft NW swell is coming, but it’s a big, wild beast, and it’s probably too much for this reef. It’s the only time the energy really peaks, and it’s a serious one. If you’re an expert, you might get a look, but don’t expect a clean, lined-up wave. It’s going to be messy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the ESE by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, strong winds from the W by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | ESE 5 | E 5 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | NW 10 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 230 | 186 | 140 | 86 | 78 | 76 | 164 | 166 | 136 | 92 | 57 | 36 | 30 | 61 | 411 | 299 | 476 | 734 | 1800 | 1284 | 1326 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:20PM4.52m | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | 1:46PM4.29m | 1:55AM4.48m | 2:44PM4.17m | 3:01AM4.28m | 3:55PM4.11m | 4:23AM4.15m | 5:15PM4.16m | 5:55AM4.19m | 6:32PM4.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:12AM1.38m | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | 7:34AM1.68m | 7:47PM2.10m | 8:27AM1.89m | 8:50PM2.27m | 9:36AM2.09m | 10:15PM2.33m | 11:01AM2.17m | 11:47PM2.18m | 12:22PM2.08m | 1:01AM1.85m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:16 |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | W 10 | E 6 | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 6 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | — | NNW 11 | — |
| kJ | 230 | 186 | 140 | 86 | 61 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 36 | 30 | 61 | 411 | 299 | 16 | 12 | — | 1284 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 9 | W 11 | — | W 11 | E 5 | SE 7 | W 10 | WNW 4 | W 5 | NE 10 | SE 6 | SE 7 | N 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 26 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | W 11 | SE 6 | E 5 | E 7 | N 6 | N 7 | N 11 | NNW 10 | N 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 2 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 4 | SSW 2 | — | S 3 | SW 4 | W 8 | W 8 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 10 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 8 | 30 | 78 | 76 | 164 | 166 | 136 | 92 | 57 | 5 | 1 | — | 8 | 16 | 476 | 734 | 1800 | 386 | 1326 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 1 | 41 | 412 | 178 | 100 | 106 | 180 | 1179 | 255 | 294 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 674 | 835 | 596 | 191 | 191 | 94 |
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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