Thurso East • Statistics for July

July: The Bottom of the Energy Curve

July is the least energetic month on the Thurso East calendar. Average swell height is 0.9m (3ft), period sinks to 8.1s, and most of the swell spectrum is dominated by short-period W and WNW windswell - WNW alone accounts for 24.5% of all direction readings, with W at 19.5% and NNW/NW adding 14.6% and 12.0% respectively. Because the period is under 8.5s, the waves are average, punchy and often messy. The optimal northern window is narrower (33.9%), and a huge amount of time is spent waiting for a swell that never quite turns on.

The wind rose shows the highest frequency of light west-northwesterly breezes and a summery SE/S flow (SE 10.5%, SSE 6.7%, S 4.6%). Although ideal conditions reach 29%, the combination of weak swell and frequent westerly and north-westerly winds means flat spells and blown-out afternoons are common. Water temperature peaks at 13.1°C (56°F), air at 13.2°C (56°F) - pleasant, but not enough to save a flat summer day. July is a month for foilers, longboarders, and those who love the rugged north coast even when the Atlantic is sleeping.