
Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with 487 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. 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 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s look at what we’ve got on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Alright, let’s be straight with you. The next 16 days are a mixed bag, and we’re gonna have to be patient. Surf shows up, but mostly on the small side while winds come and go. The first real sessions to bother paddling out for won’t really kick off until the middle of next week, so plan around that.
For the water temperature here at Cox Bay, it’s running about average for the time of year, so no nasty surprises when you hit the water.
We start off on Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th with some tiny, clean waves—around 1ft to 2ft on a very long period groundswell from the SW. The on/off winds are there, but it’s mostly small enough to make it tricky to find a proper ride. Thursday morning sees a bit of a jump with 4ft of short-period W swell and light cross-offshore wind, but the period is too short to hold much shape. It cleans up nicely later that afternoon when the wind goes glassy, but the swell drops away fast.
Friday the 14th is a bit of a write-off. The swell stays under 2ft but with a reasonable period, just the wind not cooperating in the afternoon.
Saturday the 15th is where the energy starts to show, but combined with small size—1ft to 2ft on a very long period SSW swell. The combined energy is there at 371 to 514, suggesting the ocean has potential, but the wave size is still too small to let you really cash in.
Sunday the 16th is your first real standout. Morning brings 3ft of solid SSW groundswell with glassy conditions. That’s a treat. At 466 combined energy, this has push and will make the most of the small-plus size. It’s a long-period swell at 16 seconds, which at a beach and point like Cox can peel a bit top-to-bottom. It’ll be clean and inviting.
After that, the middle of the week—Monday through Wednesday—is a blur of waist-high slop. The swell hangs around 3ft to 3ft but with messy cross-shore winds and fading period. Not worth battling the crowd that might show.
Then we get a big gap with no solid recommendations until Thursday the 20th. That morning looks magic: 3ft of 16-second SSW groundswell, completely glassy with no wind and a combined energy of 498. That’s a true morning glass-off. Get out early before the onshore kicks in.
The following weekend, Saturday the 22nd, shows another clean early session with 2ft and glassy conditions at 271 energy, but small. Then we hit a dead patch through to the 27th, though there’s a small rise to 3ft to 4ft on the Sunday the 23rd — but that’s short-period, onshore wind slop, not worth more than a glance.
Right at the end, on Thursday the 27th, there’s a final window with 2ft of 16-second SW groundswell and glassy wind, but the size is limiting.
The standout by a long shot is Sunday morning the 16th at Cox Bay. Clean, glassy, long-period groundswell with moderate energy—that’s your best bet for a decent, head-high session.
If you can wait, Thursday morning the 20th is a very close second, also glassy with a bit more grunt in the water from the combined energy.
Everything else is small or windy. Keep your expectations in check, but those two windows are pure gold.
Stay salty.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed night, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | W 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
129 | 111 | 154 | 203 | 113 | 129 | 206 | 124 | 119 | 149 | 140 | 280 | 209 | 339 | 268 | 441 | 425 | 353 | 330 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 00:21AM3.62m | 1:36PM3.18m | 1:15AM3.61m | 2:15PM3.30m | 2:04AM3.53m | 2:51PM3.38m | 2:51AM3.37m | 3:26PM3.41m | 3:37AM3.16m | 4:00PM3.38m | 4:23AM2.92m | 4:35PM3.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:12AM0.00m | 7:12PM1.12m | 7:52AM0.02m | 8:01PM0.94m | 8:30AM0.15m | 8:48PM0.82m | 9:05AM0.37m | 9:34PM0.77m | 9:40AM0.65m | 10:20PM0.79m | 10:14AM0.96m | 11:07PM0.87m | |||||||
— | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
8:46 | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
39 | 98 | 79 | 203 | 113 | 100 | 77 | 54 | 41 | 98 | 128 | 94 | 85 | 339 | 268 | 441 | 425 | 353 | 330 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
129 | 111 | 154 | 150 | 95 | 129 | 206 | 124 | 119 | 109 | 103 | 280 | 209 | 83 | 83 | 99 | 51 | 34 | 28 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | W 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | WNW 4 | W 11 |
70 | 53 | 80 | 27 | 44 | 44 | 22 | 38 | 18 | 149 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 44 | 88 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 119 | 1254 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1021 | 0 | 277 | 763 | 0 | 0 | 763 | 0 | 119 | 824 | 0 |
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.











