
Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with 857 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 10s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what Cox Bay has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with some real gems and some periods where you’re better off doing something else.
The first few days are where the real action is. Saturday the 11th is looking like the standout of the entire period. We’ve got a clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period rolling in, and the wind is going to be glassy in the afternoon – absolute perfection for a beginner-friendly wave. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The combined energy is moderate at 574, but it’s the conditions that make it. This is the one to circle.
Sunday the 12th is a different story. The swell drops a touch to 2ft from the SW, but the morning sees a stiff 12 mph SSE breeze making it a bit lumpy. The afternoon flips to a 3 mph onshore wind, which isn't great either. Not the day.
Monday the 13th is a write-off. Onshore winds and building chop. The swell is small and weak.
Tuesday the 14th is poor. A short-period 3ft W swell with only 6 seconds between waves won’t offer any shape, and the wind is messy.
We get a bit of a reprieve on Thursday the 16th. The morning sees a 5ft WNW swell with a bit of energy (475) and a clean cross-off breeze. Not a standout like Saturday, but a solid, ridable option. Later that day, a very long 17-second period swell comes in but the wind turns onshore and ruins it.
From there, it’s mostly a long quiet stretch. There are small windows of rideable swell, but the wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore, making it hard to get excited. The energy drops and the periods get long but the conditions just aren't there. You'll see a few days with 2ft to 2ft SW groundswell with periods of 16 to 21 seconds, but they are all blown out by onshore westerlies.
There is a pulse of 6ft WNW swell on Wednesday the 22nd, with moderate energy (648), but it’s coming straight into an onshore wind, making it a choppy mess. That size is pushing the limits for beginners, and with the conditions, it’s only for the desperate.
To be honest, after the first Saturday, there isn’t another real standout. The conditions just don’t line up with the swell. It’s a classic case of the forecast being full of promise but the wind failing to cooperate. Keep an eye on it though – these patterns can shift.
That's the story. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Fri 17 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 17 | WNW 8 | W 16 | W 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
287 | 294 | 283 | 211 | 214 | 217 | 178 | 121 | 125 | 129 | 84 | 101 | 308 | 259 | 245 | 857 | 232 | 199 | 308 | 246 | 176 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | on | glassy | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:30PM3.43m | 11:23AM2.66m | 10:29PM3.56m | 12:23PM2.82m | 11:27PM3.67m | 1:14PM2.97m | 00:24AM3.73m | 2:00PM3.09m | 1:20AM3.73m | 2:43PM3.18m | 2:13AM3.64m | 3:25PM3.24m | 3:05AM3.46m | 4:06PM3.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:45AM0.41m | 4:19PM1.71m | 5:44AM0.19m | 5:24PM1.65m | 6:39AM-0.00m | 6:24PM1.52m | 7:29AM-0.13m | 7:19PM1.37m | 8:15AM-0.16m | 8:12PM1.22m | 8:58AM-0.08m | 9:05PM1.11m | 9:39AM0.10m | ||||||||
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
9:27 | — | — | 9:25 | — | — | 9:25 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:23 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:22 | — | 9:21 | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 17 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
267 | 273 | 221 | 160 | 143 | 133 | 84 | 63 | 125 | 66 | 84 | 59 | 308 | 259 | 245 | 547 | 232 | 199 | 308 | 156 | 151 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 19 | W 18 | SW 16 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 |
287 | 294 | 283 | 211 | 214 | 217 | 178 | 121 | 67 | 129 | 46 | 101 | 67 | 64 | 109 | 111 | 150 | 90 | 206 | 246 | 176 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | W 18 | W 20 | W 17 | W 17 | W 15 | W 16 | W 15 | SW 21 | W 14 | SSW 13 | W 13 | W 13 | SW 18 | W 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 11 |
2 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 24 | 41 | 44 | 71 | 18 | 63 | 67 | 55 | 55 | 109 | 50 | 107 | 93 | 29 | 89 | 88 | 39 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 99 | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | 857 | — | 191 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 687 | 1 | 145 | 1021 | 9 | 123 | 1020 | 0 | 119 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 123 | 0 | 119 | 825 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Vancouver Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











