
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: Friday 18 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with 5,113 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore 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 (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 | 1AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking over the next couple weeks.
The first real chance to score comes Saturday the 12th, but honestly, it’s a rough start. Before that, Friday the 11th is a write-off with strong cross-off winds and short-period, lumpy swell – just not worth paddling out. So we’ve got a gap of dead quiet until Saturday morning. That morning, a proper groundswell arrives from the WNW at 8 ft with a 13-second period, and the wind swings to a clean offshore from the SSW. It’s going to be powerful, but the wave energy is strong (2348), and that size is already intimidating for the average surfer – you’ll want to be solid on your feet. Saturday afternoon is a mess with a strong cross-shore, so session it early.
Sunday the 13th is smaller, around 7 ft from the WNW, but the wind is a gentle cross-off and the period is still a decent 11 seconds. The energy drops to 985, making it a more manageable, clean wave. Not the standout of the period, but a nice, relaxed Sunday morning paddle. Monday the 14th is a surprise – a tiny 3 ft groundswell from the NNW, but with glassy offshore winds. It’s weak energy (440-523), but it’ll be clean as a whistle and perfect for a log or a fun board.
As we head into midweek, Wednesday the 16th morning looks like a real standout. Swell is 6 ft from the W with a solid 11-second period, and the wave energy jumps to 1268. The winds are a gentle cross-off and the conditions are clean. This is your pick of the first week – solid, consistent, and manageable for a good crew. Later that day, it goes clean offshore, so the afternoon will also be very good.
Now, the second week brings some serious size. Thursday the 17th through Tuesday the 23rd is dominated by big, powerful swells from the WNW, often over 12 ft with periods up to 14 seconds. The energy numbers are huge (up to 5628). This is expert-only territory, and even then, Thurso Reef is a reef break that handles big groundswell well, but you need to know what you’re doing. The wind is often cross-off or clean, but the size is the main story. For the brave, Thursday the 17th morning looks insane, but it’s a beast.
After the big stuff, the last few days of the period calm down. Monday the 21st morning is a special one to circle: 8 ft from the WNW with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy – slight air from the SSW. That is perfect. The wave energy is 1486, just right for a heavy, clean reef wave without being a monster. This is the best of the whole run for an experienced surfer looking for a winning session.
Later in the week, Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th morning offer smaller, cleaner options around 7 ft from the WNW, with offshore winds. These are your fallback days if you missed the big glassy one.
The water temperature is sitting at 56°F, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year. Not a shock, but you’ll want a good wetsuit.
Bottom line: If you can handle solid, powerful reef waves, the morning of Saturday the 12th is your first real look. But the absolute standout to pencil in is the glassy, clean 8 ft groundswell on Monday the 21st morning. That one is magic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sat morning, light winds from the NW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 10 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | W 9 | W 10 | W 7 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
393 | 851 | 2377 | 3700 | 1747 | 938 | 689 | 313 | 313 | 351 | 242 | 495 | 233 | 747 | 723 | 504 | 685 | 2317 | 4447 | 5113 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 3:55AM0.82m | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 6:35 | — | — | 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 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 13 | SE 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | W 9 | W 10 | N 10 | W 10 | SE 6 | NNW 8 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | — | — |
167 | 851 | 2377 | 8 | 1747 | 938 | 689 | 295 | 313 | 351 | 242 | 104 | 233 | 1 | 257 | 504 | 48 | 19 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | WNW 14 | N 9 | — | — | NNW 15 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | WNW 9 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | SE 6 | N 10 | — | N 9 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — |
2 | 465 | 6 | — | — | 42 | 186 | 313 | 132 | 298 | 158 | 2 | 71 | — | 25 | 174 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | NNW 12 | — | SE 5 | ESE 3 | — | SE 6 | — | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — |
2 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SE 6 | S 4 | WNW 13 | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 3 | — | SSW 3 | W 7 | W 6 | WNW 10 | W 11 | — | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 12 |
393 | 2 | 33 | 3700 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | 1 | 495 | 190 | 747 | 723 | — | 685 | 2317 | 4447 | 5113 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 0 | 423 | 170 | 16 | 26 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 26 | 934 | 190 | 26 | 16 | 755 | 664 | 696 |
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.










