Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, W swell with 580 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cox Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cox Bay in the next 16 days are 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s shaping up for Cox Bay.
The water temp is sitting at 15°, which is bang on normal for this time of year—nothing to worry about there.
We’ve got a pretty quiet start to the period. The first few days are small and choppy. Saturday morning (29th August) has a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW with a slight cross-on breeze, but it’s a marginal one with weak energy (474). Saturday afternoon is a write-off – onshore wind and poor conditions. Sunday morning (30th) is where it starts to perk up a bit: 3ft, clean cross-off wind, and a 17 second period groundswell that’ll give the waves a bit of push. The combined energy is moderate (511). That’s a fun little window for a longboard or a fish.
Sunday afternoon also stays clean, but the swell backs off a fraction. Monday (31st) and Tuesday (1st September) are mixed—some clean windows, but the swell is still small and inconsistent. The period dips to 14 seconds by Tuesday, losing some grunt.
Then Wednesday (2nd) sees a bump in size: 5ft to 5ft from the west, but the period drops to 8–10 seconds – that’s short-period windswell, less shape. The energy picks up to 610 by Wednesday arvo, but the wind is cross-on, so it’s a bit messy. Thursday (3rd) afternoon is a standout: glassy conditions, 4ft west swell, and clean faces. That’s one to pencil in.
Friday (4th) has a weird spike – 2ft from the SW but with an 18-second period and energy of 649 – that’s a long-period groundswell, but it’s tiny and the wind is onshore, so don’t get too excited. Saturday (5th) afternoon looks glassy again with 3ft from the SSW and decent energy (553). That’s another clean, fun session.
Now, the real standout is Tuesday, 8th September. Morning has 6ft from the west with a clean cross-off breeze and big energy (1026). That’s a solid, powerful swell for experienced surfers. But the absolute gem is Tuesday afternoon: glassy, 7ft west swell, 11-second period, and energy through the roof at 1357. That’s a proper session – excellent conditions, but it’s pushing into expert-only territory size-wise. The west swell direction is a good match for Cox Bay’s exposure. It’s a beach and point setup, so that long-period groundswell might hold up well on the point if the tide cooperates.
After that, Wednesday (9th) drops off fast with onshore wind, and the rest of the second week fades into small, choppy, or onshore conditions. There’s a brief glassy window on Thursday morning (10th) with 3ft, and another on Friday morning (11th) with 3ft from the SW and a 17-second period – clean but small. The last few days are a write-off with strong onshore winds.
Bottom line: the best bet is definitely Tuesday 8th September – the afternoon glass-off with 7ft west swell is the standout. Second pick is Saturday 5th September afternoon for a smaller, clean session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 64mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 19 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
255 | 211 | 273 | 424 | 326 | 402 | 306 | 272 | 272 | 211 | 168 | 118 | 271 | 407 | 434 | 341 | 276 | 284 | 240 | 338 | 455 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | on | cross |
High Tide | 2:23PM3.25m | 2:28AM3.20m | 2:52PM3.34m | 3:10AM3.10m | 3:23PM3.40m | 3:55AM2.96m | 3:57PM3.43m | 4:46AM2.79m | 4:36PM3.39m | 5:46AM2.62m | 5:23PM3.32m | 7:04AM2.49m | 6:24PM3.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:05AM0.52m | 8:25PM0.83m | 8:34AM0.63m | 9:05PM0.70m | 9:04AM0.81m | 9:48PM0.64m | 9:37AM1.03m | 10:35PM0.64m | 10:15AM1.29m | 11:30PM0.70m | 10:59AM1.54m | 00:36AM0.77m | 11:58AM1.77m | 1:53AM0.78m | |||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 6 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 |
131 | 211 | 143 | 424 | 326 | 120 | 188 | 221 | 203 | 125 | 99 | 46 | 271 | 407 | 434 | 341 | 276 | 230 | 240 | 203 | 169 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | W 9 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 19 | S 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
255 | 44 | 273 | 64 | 48 | 402 | 306 | 272 | 272 | 211 | 168 | 74 | 92 | 89 | 123 | 68 | 38 | 284 | 84 | 338 | 455 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 12 | SW 13 | WSW 11 | W 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | S 13 | SW 15 | S 12 | S 12 |
88 | 11 | 57 | 23 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 37 | 37 | 118 | 114 | 114 | 65 | 58 | 135 | 85 | 115 | 108 | 69 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 5 | — | — | E 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 191 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 52 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 825 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 151 | 93 | 0 | 119 | 0 | 93 | 124 | 93 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 135 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Vancouver Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cox Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cox Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cox Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cox 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 (Cox 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 Cox 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.
Cox Bay is 77 km (48 miles) from Gold River. If you plan a holiday in Vancouver Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gold River. Gold River has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











