Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Reef surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, W swell with 872 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s 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 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Reef in the next 16 days are 1.8m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Thurso Reef over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’m not gonna lie to you – this is a tough stretch. The forecast is mostly a write-off for any decent waves, with a whole lot of small, weak, or messy conditions. The water temperature is sitting at 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, 19th August. That’s when we finally see a pulse of 5ft swell from the west, with a solid 11-second period and a moderate amount of energy (607). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSE, which should keep the surface clean. This is the standout of the entire outlook – the best conditions we’re going to see, and it’s a reef break that’s exposed to the optimum NW swell direction. Just be aware that this is an intermediate spot, and crowds can sometimes be an issue here.
Other than that single session, the rest of the forecast is grim. The 14th and 15th of August are tiny and windy, with swell barely reaching 2ft. The weekend of the 16th–17th is marginal at best, with cross-shore winds and weak, short-period swell. From the 20th through the 22nd, the wind turns onshore and fresh, and the swell is small and jumbled – not worth paddling out for. Late in the month, from the 24th onward, there’s a bit of longer-period swell (11–12 seconds) but it’s only 2–2ft, and the wind is often cross-off or offshore, but the energy is just too low to get excited about.
So, to sum it up: you’ve got one solid morning on Wednesday the 19th. After that, it’s a long dry spell. The conditions are pretty ordinary, but hey, it’s a reef, so when it does come in, it can be worth the wait. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s looking like a keeper’s week.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | N 9 | N 9 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | N 7 | W 9 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 45 | 25 | 24 | 250 | 309 | 187 | 120 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 27 | 36 | 22 | 857 | 596 | 294 | 90 | 79 | 99 | 215 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:40PM5.35m | 11:18AM4.92m | 11:19PM5.28m | 11:55AM4.77m | 11:57PM5.10m | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 1:10PM4.35m | 1:17AM4.51m | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM1.34m | 4:58AM0.82m | 5:07PM1.40m | 5:37AM0.98m | 5:45PM1.53m | 6:16AM1.25m | 6:23PM1.74m | 6:55AM1.57m | 7:03PM1.99m | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — |
 | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 7 | N 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 45 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 12 | 16 | 120 | 36 | 40 | 38 | 27 | 36 | 22 | 857 | 596 | 294 | 90 | 79 | 58 | 34 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | — | — | — | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | E 4 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | N 11 | W 9 | W 9 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 12 | 42 | 40 | 31 | 41 | 23 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 61 | 2 | 56 | 52 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | ESE 3 | SE 4 | WSW 4 | W 6 | — | — | — | NNW 6 | — | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 27 | 60 | 103 | 250 | 309 | 187 | 75 | — | — | 2 | 40 | 5 | 102 | — | — | — | 69 | — | 99 | 215 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 71 | 826 | 596 | 770 | 292 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 674 | 934 | 783 | 191 |
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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