Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, W swell with 528 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. 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 1.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. The next couple of weeks has a bit of everything, but you gotta be patient and pick your windows. There's definitely some fun surf if you know when to go, but there's also a flat spell that you'll want to sleep in for.
We're starting off slow. Monday the 17th is a write-off, and Tuesday the 18th is more of the same. Small, weak swell and bumpy conditions make it pretty messy. There's not enough energy or shape to make it worth your while.
But then things click into place. Wednesday morning, the 19th, is your first real standout. It's glassy, with a clean 3ft of west swell and a 12-second period. This is the kind of morning you dream about. The energy is solid at 504, and with the wind completely off, the bay is going to be smooth. This is the one to check.
Thursday the 20th sees a size jump to 5ft and the energy goes up to 673. More power, for sure, but that cross-onshore wind is going to put a wobble on the face. It's bigger, but not as clean as Wednesday. Friday the 21st cleans up with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops back down to 2ft, so it's more of a fun, small-wave day.
Saturday morning the 22nd is another interesting one. It's dead calm and glassy, and there's a 4ft swell, but the period is a short 7 seconds. That short-period stuff lacks punch and makes the waves crumble and close out. The energy is lower too (263), so it's a bit of a grovel.
Then, it just flat-lines. From Sunday the 23rd through to Tuesday the 26th, it's looking pretty grim. The swell drops out, winds go onshore, and it's just poor conditions all around. A few days of nothing.
Things try to build back towards the end of the month, but it's that small, weak stuff. The 30th sees a big jump in energy to 700, but the wave height is still only 3ft and the wind is gonna be howling. Not a great combo. The first couple of days of September show a bit more consistency with 3ft swells, but the wind is still mostly on it, so it will be lumpy.
So here's the deal. Your clear standouts are Wednesday the 19th for the clean, glassy conditions and Thursday the 20th for the size and power. Wednesday is the pick, in my opinion. The stuff in the second week looks promising but it's a long way off, so don't bank your life on it.
Water temp is around 59°, which is about average for the year, so a full 3/2 is still your best bet.
Alright, go get some.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu night, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 8 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 15 | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 8 | SSW 13 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
268 | 268 | 214 | 282 | 264 | 268 | 237 | 388 | 388 | 195 | 231 | 183 | 178 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 74 | 65 | 129 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:12AM2.69m | 5:12PM3.17m | 6:10AM2.48m | 5:55PM3.04m | 7:24AM2.33m | 6:51PM2.92m | 9:06AM2.30m | 8:02PM2.86m | 10:29AM2.39m | 9:13PM2.88m | 11:20AM2.52m | 10:13PM2.96m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:07PM0.87m | 10:49AM1.27m | 00:01AM0.97m | 11:29AM1.55m | 1:04AM1.06m | 12:18PM1.78m | 2:17AM1.09m | 1:34PM1.93m | 3:29AM1.04m | 3:13PM1.96m | 4:32AM0.93m | 4:22PM1.87m | |||||||
— | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
8:36 | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 12 | WNW 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 8 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 13 | W 7 |
138 | 110 | 49 | 173 | 117 | 268 | 210 | 388 | 388 | 195 | 231 | 137 | 105 | 26 | 55 | 69 | 74 | 65 | 38 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 7 | W 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 9 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 19 |
268 | 268 | 196 | 282 | 264 | 94 | 237 | 220 | 306 | 188 | 186 | 183 | 178 | 59 | 14 | 98 | 67 | 42 | 129 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | W 15 | W 15 | SW 19 | W 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 20 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 15 |
38 | 123 | 214 | 178 | 121 | 123 | 223 | 4 | 4 | 57 | 3 | 15 | 50 | 101 | 99 | 66 | 66 | 38 | 42 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | NW 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 119 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 119 | 220 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 1 | 119 | 825 | 21 |
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.











