Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough start. The first ten days or so are looking pretty average, with hardly any surf worth paddling out for. There’s a long gap from now until the middle of the month where the waves are small, messy, or just not cooperating. You’ll be waiting a while.

The first bit of action that’s even worth a mention is Thurso Reef (Scotland). This spot is a solid reef break, fairly consistent, and exposed to the swell. Early on, say the 1st and 2nd of August, we’ve got some small swell around 3 ft to 5 ft from the NNW and NW, but the wind is all over the place – cross and cross-off, and the periods are short, around 8 seconds. The water is a bit chilly at 56°, which is about normal for this time of year. The combined energy on the 1st morning is weak (96), so it’s not doing much. Honestly, it’s a poor outlook for a session.

We’ve got a bit of a dry spell through the first week, with nothing but tiny, onshore junk. The 7th and 8th of August offer a tiny glimmer – a glassy morning on the 8th with a 2 ft swell from the west, but the energy is still weak (76). It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for a ride.

Then, the real story comes in the second week. Hold onto your leash, because on Friday the 14th of August, things get serious. We’ve got a solid push of swell from the WNW, building to 8 ft in the morning and 10 ft in the afternoon. That’s a big, powerful groundswell with a period of 9-10 seconds – plenty of energy. The combined energy is massive: 951 in the morning and a whopping 1502 in the afternoon. That’s some serious power. However – and it’s a big however – the wind is howling from the NNW at 12-16 mph, cross-onshore. That’s going to put a chop on it and make it tricky. This is strictly for experts only; anything over 8 ft is no place for the faint-hearted. The crowd factor is a worry here too – it’s “sometimes” busy, but with a solid swell like this, you can bet it’ll be packed.

Saturday the 15th continues the theme: still a solid 7 ft to 7 ft from the WNW, but that cross-onshore wind is still a problem. The energy is still pumping (817-618). It’s messy, but there’s power in the water.

Finally, on Sunday the 16th of August, the wind finally drops. We get a light offshore from the W at 6 mph, with a 3 ft swell from the west. The combined energy is a moderate 170. The conditions are clean. This is your best bet for a manageable, fun wave without getting blown off your board. It’s not the biggest, but it’ll be clean and you’ll get some rides.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The real standout is the swell around the 14th and 15th, but it’s only for the brave and skilled due to the size and wind. The best all-rounder, the one I’d aim for, is Sunday the 16th of August at Thurso Reef – it’s clean, the swell is manageable, and the wind is kind. Don’t sleep on that one.

Rusty.

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