Thurso Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Reef sea temperature is
13.8° C
0.4° 

Thurso Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thurso Reef surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, WNW swell with 1,198 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with WNW 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 2.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 8s
Best Surf10AM (Mon 24th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 11s
Most Powerful10AM (Mon 24th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, I’m Rusty, and I’m looking at the Thurso Reef outlook for the next 16 days. Honestly, I’ve got to be straight with you – this stretch is a mixed bag with a whole lot of mediocrity and one real standout window that’s worth circling on the calendar.

The pattern starts pretty grim. From Wednesday 19th August right through to Sunday 23rd, we’re dealing with a run of poor surf conditions. The winds are mostly cross or cross-on, gusting up to 19 mph, and the swell is a jumbled mess of short-period windswell between 6 and 9 seconds. Heights bob around from 2 ft to 5 ft, but the energy is weak to moderate – the combined energy reading sits between 82 and 547. It’s choppy, lumpy, and just not worth paddling out for. You’ll be fighting the wind more than riding the wave.

Then, things start to clean up late Sunday 23rd into Monday 24th. The winds go cross-off, and the swell starts to look more promising. The real standout is Monday morning 24th August at Thurso Reef. This is the one. We’ve got a clean 7 ft swell rolling in from the WNW, with a solid 11-second period. That’s groundswell, packing real energy – the combined energy reading is a powerful 1199. The wind is a light SE breeze at 6 mph, cross-off, so the surface will be clean and lined up. This is excellent surf, but it’s for experienced surfers only – 7 ft at a reef break with that kind of power is not for the faint-hearted. The water temperature is around 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Monday afternoon fades a bit with the wind picking up to 12 mph, but still clean. After that, it’s back into a long, flat, and quiet spell. From Tuesday 25th August all the way through to Thursday 3rd September, we’re looking at small, weak, and often messy surf. Swell heights drop below 3 ft for most of that period, with energy readings falling into the low double digits – down to 34 at one point. The wind is messy, sometimes cross-shore, sometimes glassy but with no swell to ride. There are a few mornings with clean conditions and offshore winds, like on 31st August and 1st September, but the waves are barely 2 ft to 3 ft. It’s surfable but very ordinary – you’d be scratching for a knee-high dribbler.

Towards the very end, on Thursday 3rd September morning, we get a clean, moderate offshore breeze from the south at 16 mph, with 2 ft swell – again, too small to get excited about. That’s about it for this run.

So, to sum it up: the only true standout is Monday morning 24th August – that’s your window for a proper session. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a write-off, with long gaps of tiny, weak surf. If you’re a beginner, that Monday will be too big. If you’re an expert, mark it. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for the next decent pulse.

Stay tuned, and keep hoping for a change in the pattern.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the S by Sun night).

Wed
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
2
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
10
1.4
N
7
1.4
N
7
2.2
N
7
1.7
NNW
8
1.5
NNW
6
1.4
NNW
6
1.2
NNW
5
0.7
N
9
1
WNW
5
1.1
WNW
6
1.2
WNW
6
1.3
WNW
7
1.5
WNW
9
2.2
WNW
11
2.1
WNW
11
1.5
W
11
1.2
W
10
0.9
W
10
0.6
NNW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
257
200
171
501
383
160
122
78
76
48
85
107
172
360
1198
954
516
290
153
88
Wind (km/h)
20
NNE
25
NNE
25
NNW
30
NNW
25
NNW
25
NW
30
NW
25
WNW
25
WNW
30
WNW
25
WNW
20
W
20
W
10
SW
10
SE
20
ESE
30
SE
25
SE
25
ESE
25
ESE
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
2:06AM4.17m
2:44PM3.95m
3:10AM3.88m
3:54PM3.84m
4:38AM3.72m
5:18PM3.86m
6:14AM3.76m
6:34PM4.01m
7:22AM3.94m
7:29PM4.24m
8:08AM4.17m
8:10PM4.48m
Low Tide
7:49PM2.25m
8:23AM2.27m
8:51PM2.49m
9:29AM2.54m
10:25PM2.60m
11:03AM2.65m
00:01AM2.49m
12:23PM2.55m
1:05AM2.25m
1:18PM2.35m
1:49AM1.97m
1:59PM2.11m
2:26AM1.71m
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:43
5:46
5:48
5:50
5:52
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:51
8:49
8:45
8:43
8:39
8:37
8:35
 mm
1
1
2
Temp °C
13
12
12
12
11
11
12
13
14
14
13
14
15
14
16
17
14
14
14
14
Feels °C
9
7
6
6
5
5
5
9
8
9
10
10
11
12
13
14
10
9
9
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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