AI-generatedThurso at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Aug
- Warmest month
- Jul · 18°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 13.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,290 h
- Rain a year
- 866 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 22 m
Climate in Thurso
Thurso has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 18 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,290 hours of sunshine a year, Thurso is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 6.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Thurso
The best time to visit Thurso is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 13.1 °C. The wettest month is October with 100 mm of precipitation.
Thurso through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Thurso in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 9–14 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 41 rainy days in all
Thurso in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 16–18 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 43 rainy days in all
Thurso in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 9–16 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 2.7 h of sun a day
- 51 rainy days in all
Thurso in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 1.8 h of sun a day
- 48 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Thurso for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: July – August
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 7°
- Midday, 13:00: about 12°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 12°
- Evening, 20:00: about 10°
- Night, 23:00: about 9°
07:4818:12
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:23–08:44 · evening 17:15–18:36
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:07–07:23 · evening 18:36–18:52
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Thurso compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 14° at the start of the month to 11° at the end. The sea cools from 13° to 11°. The days get 2.5 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 14° | 11° |
| Night-time low | 8° | 6° |
| Sea | 13° | 11° |
| Daylight | 11.6 h | 9.1 h |
What is the weather like in Thurso in October?
In October, Thurso is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 100 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 33 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 24 min07:48 – 18:12
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 33 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 74 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+1offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %49 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Compare two months in Thurso
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Thurso: score 62 against 24. In July, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is about as warm in both months. July has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 24 | 62better |
| Daytime high | 12° | 18° |
| Night-time low | 7° | 11° |
| Sea | 12.1° | 12.3° |
| Sunshine | 2.7 h | 4.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 18 | 15better |
| Rainfall | 100 mm | 70 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Thurso month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
1January7° · Sea 8° · 1.5 h
In January, Thurso is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 8.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.5 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 75 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 36 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in January8February7° · Sea 8° · 2.6 h
In February, Thurso is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 7.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.6 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 65 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 35 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in February15March9° · Sea 8° · 3.6 h
In March, Thurso is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 7.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.6 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 61 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 33 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in March34April11° · Sea 8° · 4.9 h
In April, Thurso is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 54 mm in total. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 29 km/h. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in April52May14° · Sea 9° · 6.3 h
In May, Thurso is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 9.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 59 mm in total. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in May59June16° · Sea 11° · 5.0 h
In June, Thurso is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 10.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 62 mm in total. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in June62July18° · Sea 12° · 4.6 h
In July, Thurso is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 70 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in July60August18° · Sea 13° · 4.4 h
In August, Thurso is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 77 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in August53September16° · Sea 13° · 3.8 h
In September, Thurso is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 77 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 29 km/h. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in September24October12° · Sea 12° · 2.7 h
In October, Thurso is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 100 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 33 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in October8November9° · Sea 11° · 1.7 h
In November, Thurso is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 88 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 35 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in November3December7° · Sea 9° · 1.2 h
In December, Thurso is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 80 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 34 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Thurso.
Thurso in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Thurso
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in February (2°), the warmest in August (11°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 1 | 7° | 2° | 8.4° | 1.5 h | 17 | 75 |
| FebruaryFeb | 8 | 7° | 2° | 7.7° | 2.6 h | 14 | 65 |
| MarchMar | 15 | 9° | 3° | 7.5° | 3.6 h | 15 | 61 |
| AprilApr | 34 | 11° | 4° | 8.0° | 4.9 h | 13 | 54 |
| MayMay | 52 | 14° | 6° | 9.0° | 6.3 h | 13 | 59 |
| JuneJun | 59 | 16° | 9° | 10.6° | 5.0 h | 13 | 62 |
| JulyJul | 62 | 18° | 11° | 12.3° | 4.6 h | 15 | 70 |
| AugustAug | 60 | 18° | 11° | 13.1° | 4.4 h | 15 | 77 |
| SeptemberSep | 53 | 16° | 9° | 13.0° | 3.8 h | 15 | 77 |
| OctoberOct | 24 | 12° | 7° | 12.1° | 2.7 h | 18 | 100 |
| NovemberNov | 8 | 9° | 4° | 10.8° | 1.7 h | 18 | 88 |
| DecemberDec | 3 | 7° | 2° | 9.4° | 1.2 h | 17 | 80 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
58.59° N, 3.53° W · 22 m · Europe/London
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Thurso
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 11.6 – 12.6 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Thurso ranges from 7.5 °C in March to 13.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From November to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 12.5 and 13.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 8.4° | 7.9° | 8.9° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 7.7° | 7.2° | 8.3° | cold |
| MarchMar | 7.5° | 6.9° | 8.1° | cold |
| AprilApr | 8.0° | 7.4° | 8.6° | cold |
| MayMay | 9.0° | 8.4° | 9.5° | cold |
| JuneJun | 10.6° | 9.9° | 11.3° | cold |
| JulyJul | 12.3° | 11.4° | 13.1° | cold |
| AugustAug | 13.1° | 12.5° | 13.7° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 13.0° | 12.4° | 13.6° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 12.1° | 11.6° | 12.6° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 10.8° | 10.3° | 11.2° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 9.4° | 8.8° | 10.1° | cold |
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Thurso
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 2.7 of 10.4 hours of daylight in Thurso, 26 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Thurso: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Thurso has about 18 rainy days with 100 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Thurso
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 6).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Thurso
How breezy and how cloudy Thurso is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Thurso typically peaks at 33 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it is that strong all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 74 % of the sky over Thurso: mostly cloudy, with about 2.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to Thurso
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Thurso in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Thurso has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 61) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 2).
- 28
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 53
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 61
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 24
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 2.7 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 2
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 1.4 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 30 min
- Distance
- 820 km
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: United Kingdom
- Currency
- British Pound (GBP)
- Language
- English
- Sockets
- Type G · 230 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +44
- Emergency number
- 999 · 112
UK plugs fit
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Thurso compared
Put Thurso side by side with another destination.
Thurso vs Kirkwall
In October the holiday weather in Thurso and Kirkwall is about equally good (score 24 vs 22). During the day it is about as warm in Kirkwall as in Thurso. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Thurso | Kirkwall |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 24 | 22 |
| Daytime high | 12° | 12° |
| Sea | 12° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 18 | 21 |
| Best time | Jul – Aug | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
Best places in the country
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Thurso ranks 27 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Berwick-upon-Tweed14°12°41
- 2Bamburgh14°12°41
- 3St Andrews13°12°40
- 4Nairn13°12°37
- 5Invergordon13°12°36
- 6Perth13°12°36
- 7Kirkcaldy13°12°36
- 8Dundee13°12°35
- 27ThursoThis page12°12°24
Places nearby
Near Thurso
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Thurso
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Thurso's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Thurso
When is the best time to visit Thurso?
The best time to visit Thurso is from July to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Thurso?
The sea temperature in Thurso ranges from 7.5 °C in March to 13.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Thurso in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 12.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Thurso?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 18 °C and nights around 11 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Thurso?
The wettest month is October with 100 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 54 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Thurso get?
Thurso gets around 1,290 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.3 hours a day; in December there are 1.2 hours a day.
What time zone is Thurso in?
Thurso is on UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Thurso?
A nonstop flight from London to Thurso takes about 1 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 820 km.
Which school holidays are best for Thurso?
Thurso has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 61) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 2). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 28, May half-term 53, summer holidays 61, October half-term 24, Christmas holidays 2.