Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, WNW swell with 612 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 7s is also forecast. 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 1.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for the next couple of weeks.
We’re starting with a bit of a slow spell, but there’s definitely some clean, glassy windows to get excited about if you’ve got a log or a funboard. The first real opportunity to get wet is Sunday the 30th, and it’s a beauty.
Sunday morning, August 30th, we’ve got a 3ft SW groundswell rolling in with a 17-second period. That’s proper long-period energy, ideal for a setup like this. The wind is light from the SSE, which is a clean cross-off breeze. The water is sitting at 59°, bang on normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The combined energy is moderate (513). This is the standout of the first week.
Sunday afternoon goes glassy. 3ft of SSW swell, 16-second period, and the wind dies to almost nothing. It’s going to be silky smooth, just a really nice afternoon session.
Monday morning, August 31st, is another cracker. Glassy conditions again, 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds, with moderate energy (505). If you can get out early, it’ll be worth it.
Monday afternoon the wind swings onshore from the WNW, so the quality drops off. The surf gets a bit choppy and messy.
Tuesday, September 1st, the swell drops a touch to 2ft, but the wind is cross-off from the SSE on the afternoon session, making for clean little waves. Not a standout, but a fun option if you’re keen.
Wednesday, September 2nd, gets hammered by heavy rain and strong winds, up to 25 mph. The ocean will be a mess. Give it a miss.
Thursday, September 3rd, is a big turnaround. The swell jumps to 5ft from the W, with a short 9-second period. The combined energy is strong (621). The real treat is Thursday afternoon: glassy, flat calm, with 4ft of clean W swell. That’s a contender for the best session of the whole outlook, right there. The short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony at a beach break, but with no wind, it’ll be super fun.
Friday, September 4th, the morning has onshore wind, but Friday afternoon goes glassy again with a 2ft SSW groundswell at 18 seconds. That’s a very long period, which will wrap in nicely, but be aware it can close out a bit on the beach sections. The energy is strong (580).
The rest of the first week and into the second week – from the 5th to the 13th of September – the surf stays small, generally between 2ft and 3ft, and mostly onshore or light cross-shore winds. There are a few glassy windows, like Monday afternoon, September 7th, and Wednesday morning, September 9th, but the swell is tiny. It’s a long period of marginal, grovelly conditions.
Then we get a late wildcard. Thursday, September 10th, the swell spikes again. The morning is a windy 5ft from the WNW, but Thursday afternoon brings a 6ft WNW swell, 7-second period, and glassy, calm winds. The combined energy is strong (603). This is the biggest swell of the outlook, and with zero wind, it’s going to be a proper, powerful session. That’s the second big standout. It’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it, but it’s looking promising.
After that, from the 11th to the 13th, it’s back to small, onshore, and poor. Not much to write home about.
So, to wrap it up: the best bets are Sunday morning, August 30th, for the long-period groundswell, and Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, and Thursday afternoon, September 10th for the glassy, bigger waves. Crowds are listed as "sometimes" here, so you might get some company on those prime windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 79mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ESE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 19 | W 9 | SW 18 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
211 | 273 | 424 | 326 | 402 | 306 | 272 | 272 | 211 | 168 | 118 | 114 | 136 | 332 | 388 | 287 | 284 | 212 | 338 | 541 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 2:23PM3.25m | 2:28AM3.20m | 2:52PM3.34m | 3:10AM3.10m | 3:23PM3.40m | 3:55AM2.96m | 3:57PM3.43m | 4:46AM2.79m | 4:36PM3.39m | 5:46AM2.62m | 5:23PM3.32m | 7:04AM2.49m | 6:24PM3.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:25PM0.83m | 8:34AM0.63m | 9:05PM0.70m | 9:04AM0.81m | 9:48PM0.64m | 9:37AM1.03m | 10:35PM0.64m | 10:15AM1.29m | 11:30PM0.70m | 10:59AM1.54m | 00:36AM0.77m | 11:58AM1.77m | 1:53AM0.78m | |||||||
— | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 20 | 28 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | W 7 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SW 7 | SSE 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 18 |
211 | 126 | 424 | 326 | 120 | 197 | 230 | 207 | 125 | 94 | 31 | 112 | 97 | 448 | 388 | 287 | 246 | 212 | 169 | 541 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 18 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 19 | S 12 | SW 18 | WNW 9 |
44 | 273 | 66 | 51 | 402 | 306 | 272 | 272 | 211 | 168 | 76 | 111 | 136 | 332 | 165 | 103 | 284 | 75 | 338 | 82 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 13 | WSW 11 | W 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 7 | SW 15 | S 12 | WNW 5 |
11 | 57 | 23 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 37 | 37 | 118 | 114 | 98 | 171 | 68 | 133 | 39 | 116 | 71 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | ESE 4 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | S 6 |
196 | 225 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 245 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 162 | 93 | 123 | 0 | 119 | 151 | 135 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 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.











