Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Thurso Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a tough start. The first few days are looking pretty ordinary with cross-shore winds and messy conditions. That big WNW swell pushing through Monday and Tuesday is just getting chopped up by strong winds, making it a write-off for a clean session. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We do get a bit of a window on Wednesday afternoon the 22nd, when the wind swings cross-off and the surf cleans up. Swell is 5 ft from the WNW with moderate energy (291). It’s only marginal, but it’s the first hint of something rideable. Thursday morning the 23rd looks similar – 5 ft, WNW, clean with that cross-off breeze. Not pumping, but if you’re keen, you’ll get a few.

The real standout is shaping up for Monday the 27th. That morning we’ve got a proper offshore wind from the SSW, clean conditions, and a solid 6 ft swell from the west with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is 643 – moderate but solid. This is the best on offer in the whole run. The reef at Thurso Reef will be handling that west swell nicely, and with offshore winds, expect some clean, lined-up waves. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so you’ll get your share, though it can get crowded sometimes.

After that, the swell bumps up significantly – Tuesday the 28th through Thursday the 30th sees 8 ft to 10 ft of WNW swell, with energy readings climbing into the four-digit range (1176, 1302, 1591). That’s strong stuff. But the winds are mostly cross or cross-off, and the wave comment flags it as too big for this break. At 10 ft, it’s expert territory only, and even then, the conditions are mixed. On Thursday the 30th morning, the wind is light and cross-shore, but that swell is just too much for a clean session here.

By the end of the first week of August, the swell drops right off. Friday the 31st morning sees a tiny 3 ft from the NNW with clean conditions but very low energy (170). Saturday the 1st of August is similar – 3 ft, clean, but ordinary. Sunday the 2nd is barely a ripple at 2 ft.

Then Monday the 3rd of August gives us a glassy morning with a tiny 3 ft from the ESE, period of just 4 seconds. That’s a weak, short-period windswell, and while it’s glassy, it’s not going to get you excited. Tuesday the 4th has a 5 ft from the north, but the wind is strong offshore from the SW, which is cross-off or clean, but the swell direction is all wrong for Thurso.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Monday the 27th of July with that offshore wind and solid west swell. Don’t hold your breath for the first week, and the big stuff later in the month is too heavy for this spot.

Rusty.

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