Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 24s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 19s period, SW swell with 837 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cox Bay in the next 16 days are 1.1m 19s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 24s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks.
The only spot in the mix is Cox Bay. It’s a beach and point that breaks fairly consistently, but the first few days are pretty flat. The swell is tiny, around 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is all over the place. The combined energy is moderate (379 to 752), but it’s small, marginal stuff. Don’t bother.
The first real window of opportunity opens up on Sunday, July 26th into Monday, July 27th. The swell picks up to 3ft to 3ft from the SW, with a long period of 18 to 20 seconds. That’s groundswell, and it’ll have some punch. The wind on Monday morning is glassy, which is a huge plus. That’s the cleanest the water’s gonna be, and the waves will have good shape. The combined energy is moderate (543 to 886), but the quality is there. This is the standout.
Tuesday, July 28th keeps the SW swell around 4ft with a 19-second period, and the combined energy hits 900. The wind is cross-off, keeping it clean. Another solid day.
Then things go south. From Wednesday, July 30th through the end of the month, the wind switches onshore and the swell drops. The ocean gets messy. There’s a multi-day gap of poor surf.
On August 1st, the wind cranks up from the WNW, and the swell jumps to 6ft but with a short, choppy period of 6 seconds. That’s windswell, and with onshore wind, it’s a mess. It’s more of a kite surfing day than a paddle surfing day.
The first week of August is mostly a washout. The only halfway decent look is on Wednesday, August 5th morning, when the wind goes glassy. The swell is 5ft from the WNW, but with a period of just 5 seconds, it’s weak and gutless. The combined energy is low (171). It’s surfable, but it’s poor.
Right at the end on Thursday, August 6th morning, there’s a big spike in energy. The swell hits 8ft from the WNW with an 8-second period. The combined energy is strong (1417). The wind is light cross-shore, so it might be clean, but that swell direction isn’t ideal for the optimum W. The size is for experts only, and it’s a beach and point, so that period will make it wall up.
The best call is the Sunday, July 26th to Tuesday, July 28th window. The water temp is about average for the season, so no thermals needed. That glassy Monday morning is the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Wed night, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 53mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon night, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 24 | SSW 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 16 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 208 | 162 | 158 | 188 | 188 | 140 | 666 | 368 | 553 | 664 | 508 | 746 | 546 | 475 | 614 | 727 | 837 | 326 | 498 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 9:36AM2.34m | 8:47PM3.00m | 10:51AM2.43m | 9:43PM3.03m | 11:45AM2.54m | 10:36PM3.08m | 12:28PM2.64m | 11:22PM3.15m | 1:03PM2.74m | 00:05AM3.22m | 1:35PM2.83m | 00:45AM3.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:01AM1.02m | 2:27PM1.79m | 4:06AM0.93m | 3:42PM1.86m | 5:03AM0.82m | 4:42PM1.85m | 5:51AM0.69m | 5:30PM1.79m | 6:32AM0.57m | 6:12PM1.70m | 7:07AM0.47m | 6:50PM1.59m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 21 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 22 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | S 8 | WNW 10 | SW 24 | SSW 14 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SSW 6 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 208 | 151 | 113 | 82 | 63 | 107 | 666 | 163 | 553 | 664 | 508 | 746 | 546 | 475 | 614 | 727 | 837 | 43 | 498 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | S 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | S 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 144 | 162 | 158 | 188 | 58 | 38 | 68 | 40 | 158 | 71 | 66 | 47 | 27 | 55 | 54 | 35 | 39 | 326 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 24 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | S 10 | SW 20 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 43 | 66 | 57 | 47 | 188 | 140 | 115 | 368 | 41 | 99 | 98 | 93 | 62 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 306 | 51 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 4 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 28 | 47 | 35 | 35 | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 277 | 1102 | 0 | 93 | 894 | 0 | 119 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 749 | 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.
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