Thurso Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp at Thurso Reef is sitting at 56°, which is bang on average for this time of year. Nothing unusual there.

The forecast kicks off Sunday the 23rd, but honestly, don’t bother paddling out. We’re looking at a small, weak 3ft swell from the WNW with a short period around 7 to 8 seconds, and the wind is all over the place. The combined wave energy is weak at 111 and 129. It’s a write-off – poor conditions.

Things start to look a little more interesting on Monday the 24th. That morning, we get a nice jump in swell to 7ft from the WNW, with a solid 11-second period, giving us moderate wave energy (973). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SE, so the surf will be clean. This is the best session on offer in the whole outlook. The size is a bit much for beginners, but it’s a proper groundswell hitting the reef, and with those offshore conditions, it’s going to be a standout. The afternoon holds similar quality at 6ft (763 energy), though the wind picks up a notch.

Tuesday the 25th sees the swell dropping back to 4ft in the morning, and the wind is still clean but getting stronger. By the afternoon, it’s cross-shore and messy. Still, the morning is worth a look if you’re keen.

From Wednesday the 26th all the way through to the end of the month, the surf takes a nosedive. We’re looking at tiny, weak waves – mostly under 2ft – with moderate to strong winds and a lot of cross-chop. The energy readings are all in the double digits, mostly under 100. It’s a real flat spell. There’s a glimmer on Sunday the 30th with a 6ft NNW swell, but it’s onshore and messy, so not worth the hassle.

The first week of September doesn’t bring much relief. The first few days offer small, weak swells with clean winds at times, but nothing to get excited about. The combined energy is low, and the waves are just ordinary.

The real standout in the second week is Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got a 4ft to 5ft swell from the west with a nice 11 to 12-second period, pushing moderate wave energy (420 and 534). The wind is cross-shore from the ESE, which will keep it a bit bumpy, but the swell itself has some punch. This is a promising option, but we’re a week and a half out, so keep an eye on the updates.

After that, it’s back to small, weak, and messy conditions through to the end of the outlook.

So, to wrap it up: Monday the 24th is your best bet by a long shot – clean, solid groundswell on the reef. The Friday the 4th of September session is a good secondary option if you’re planning ahead, but it’s less certain. The rest of the run is mostly flat and forgettable.

Rusty.

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