Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SW swell with 264 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. 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 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Cox Bay.
Right off the bat, we've got a bit of a slow start. The first couple of days are small and clean, but not really firing. The real standout action is shaping up for the end of the first week and into the second. For the best bet, I'm looking at the morning of Thursday, September 3rd. That's where we'll see the most promise.
Alright, let's get into it. Friday, August 21st we start off with a small, clean 2ft SSW swell (period 14s) and light cross-off winds in the morning. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year. The afternoon goes glassy, which is a nice touch. Not much power though, with combined energy around 360 (moderate). Good for a beginner to get wet.
Saturday, August 22nd sees the swell drop to 2ft, and the wind turns cross-shore. It's a bit ordinary, nothing to write home about. Sunday, August 23rd is even smaller at 1ft, with glassy conditions in the morning but onshore winds by the afternoon. Monday, August 24th is a write-off with onshore winds all day, even though the swell pushes up to 2ft with a long 18s period from the SW. The energy is still moderate (297), but the wind is killing it.
Tuesday, August 25th is a mixed bag. The morning is a junky 3ft WNW swell with a short 7s period and onshore wind. The afternoon sees a 2ft SW swell (17s period) but with cross-onshore wind and choppy conditions. The energy jumps to 410 (moderate) but it's not rideable. Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27th are both plagued by onshore winds, with small, bumpy swell. Not worth paddling out.
Friday, August 28th is more of the same – onshore winds and a weak 2ft S swell. The run of poor conditions continues.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Saturday, August 29th we see a glimmer of hope. The morning is clean with a 2ft SSW swell (17s period) and light cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (329). It's a good window. Sunday, August 30th is a bit of a tease – the morning has a 3ft SSW swell (16s period) but with cross-shore wind, making it marginal.
Monday, August 31st is where we start to see some size. The morning has a 5ft W swell (8s period) with cross-shore wind, but the afternoon jumps to a 6ft W swell (10s period) and onshore wind. The energy is strong at 751, but the wind is junk. Tuesday, September 1st is similar, with a 5ft W swell (10s period) but onshore wind in the morning, and then a strong 20 km/h onshore in the afternoon. Not great.
Wednesday, September 2nd is a dud with onshore winds and a 8ft WNW swell (7s period) in the afternoon that's too big and short-period, with a moderate cross-onshore and choppy conditions. The energy is 853 (strong). This is more for the kite surfers, honestly.
Now for the real standout. Thursday, September 3rd – the morning is absolute glass. We've got a 5ft W swell (8s period) with glassy conditions. The combined energy is 424 (moderate). This is the best session on offer. The wind is dead calm, the waves are clean and have enough push. It's a beginner-friendly size, but fun for everyone. The afternoon turns cross-onshore, so make the most of the morning.
Friday, September 4th – another good morning. Glassy conditions again with a 4ft WNW swell (8s period) and energy of 383 (moderate). A solid backup.
Finally, Saturday, September 5th – the morning is clean with a 2ft SW swell (17s period) and light cross-off winds, and the afternoon is glassy with a 2ft SW swell (16s period). The energy is 424 (moderate). It's a nice, clean end to the outlook.
So, to wrap it up: the best bet is the morning of Thursday, September 3rd at Cox Bay. Clear skies, glassy conditions, and a 5ft swell. The Friday morning, September 4th is a close second. The rest of the time, you're mostly looking at small, clean waves for beginners, or blown-out, bigger stuff for the crew.
Stay tuned, and stay salty.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | W 8 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
186 | 183 | 178 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 67 | 65 | 129 | 114 | 203 | 197 | 108 | 147 | 264 | 161 | 124 | 124 | 122 | 113 | 75 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross | on | glassy | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:06AM2.30m | 8:02PM2.86m | 10:29AM2.39m | 9:13PM2.88m | 11:20AM2.52m | 10:13PM2.96m | 11:58AM2.66m | 11:04PM3.06m | 12:29PM2.79m | 11:49PM3.16m | 12:59PM2.91m | 00:30AM3.23m | 1:27PM3.03m | 1:08AM3.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:34PM1.93m | 3:29AM1.04m | 3:13PM1.96m | 4:32AM0.93m | 4:22PM1.87m | 5:22AM0.79m | 5:12PM1.73m | 6:02AM0.66m | 5:53PM1.57m | 6:36AM0.55m | 6:31PM1.38m | 7:08AM0.48m | 7:09PM1.18m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 13 | W 8 | W 7 | SW 18 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 6 | WSW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 |
110 | 147 | 132 | 90 | 86 | 63 | 61 | 65 | 55 | 38 | 203 | 38 | 79 | 147 | 264 | 68 | 37 | 124 | 122 | 113 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | WSW 12 | W 12 | W 12 |
186 | 183 | 178 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 67 | 41 | 129 | 114 | 30 | 197 | 103 | 65 | 60 | 161 | 124 | 29 | 50 | 72 | 71 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 20 | SW 16 | SSE 5 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 15 |
64 | 15 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 66 | 66 | 5 | 42 | 42 | 43 | 80 | 77 | 98 | 71 | 99 | 65 | 50 | 48 | 28 | 75 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 6 | — | — | WSW 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | — |
— | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 60 | 81 | — | 21 | 33 | 108 | 100 | 114 | — | — | 26 | 97 | 55 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 93 | 163 | 0 | 162 | 0 | 124 | 763 | 93 | 119 | 824 | 123 | 1 | 763 | 21 | 93 | 226 | 0 |
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.











