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Cow Bay Surf Forecast
/ Nova Scotia (17 breaks) / Nova Scotia (20 breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Cow Bay surfForecast / Nova Scotia / Canada
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 2 pm Tuesday 28 Apr 2026 ADTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Cow Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cow Bay sea temperature is
3.9° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cow Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Cow Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 02) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 2.4m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cow Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 01) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 9s period and expected on Monday (May 04) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ADT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 2nd May) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 2nd May) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 1st May) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cow Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Fri morning, min 2°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Sun morning. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Sat afternoon, min 1°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Fri afternoon, light winds from the S by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 1 | Saturday 2 | Sunday 3 | Monday 4 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
ESE 6 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | |
119 | 502 | 1081 | 734 | 552 | 611 | 515 | 623 | 912 | 1578 | 1635 | 658 | 445 | 107 | 74 | 74 | 78 | 191 | 165 | 135 | 133 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | |
High Tide | 6:55PM1.60m | 7:17AM1.48m | 7:31PM1.64m | 7:57AM1.50m | 8:07PM1.67m | 8:36AM1.52m | 8:43PM1.69m | 9:14AM1.52m | 9:19PM1.68m | 9:53AM1.51m | 9:56PM1.65m | 10:32AM1.47m | 10:35PM1.61m | 11:14AM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:39AM0.28m | 1:47PM0.33m | 2:21AM0.23m | 2:28PM0.34m | 3:00AM0.20m | 3:06PM0.37m | 3:38AM0.19m | 3:42PM0.40m | 4:14AM0.21m | 4:18PM0.44m | 4:51AM0.24m | 4:55PM0.50m | 5:29AM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 |
 | 8:14 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:21 | — | 8:22 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 26 | 7 | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
-3 | -4 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | — | S 18 | — | SE 15 | SE 15 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 8 |
 kJ | 6 | 502 | 910 | 734 | 480 | — | 6 | — | 8 | 8 | 1635 | 658 | 445 | 107 | 74 | 74 | 78 | 191 | 165 | 135 | 172 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 14 | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | S 10 | — | E 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | E 8 | S 18 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 834 | 2 | — | 102 | 45 | 23 | 10 | 97 | 37 | 6 | 133 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 12 | E 9 | — | — | S 18 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 57 | — | — | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | — | SE 10 | — | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | — |
| kJ | 119 | — | 1081 | — | 552 | 611 | 515 | 623 | 912 | 1578 | 940 | 71 | 267 | 266 | 62 | 48 | 147 | 96 | 575 | 397 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 620 | 620 | 620 | 607 | 621 | 607 | 592 | 592 | 517 | 517 | 0 | 592 | 327 | 0 | 97 | 0 | 0 | 327 | 327 | 327 | 327 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nova Scotia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cow Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Cow Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cow Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cow Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cow Bay 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 (Cow Bay) 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 Cow Bay 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 Nova Scotia? If you are looking for accommodation near Cow Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nova Scotia, consider staying in Cole Harbour which is 8 km (5 miles) away. Other places in and around Nova Scotia where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Dartmouth which is 12 km (7 miles) away, Halifax, Kings County and East Hants.
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