Surf Forecasts:
Cox Bay surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SW swell with 311 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 15s. 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 0.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cox Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checking the local surf for the next couple of weeks.
To be honest, it’s a slow start. There’s some swell in the water, but the wind and conditions are fighting it. We’re in for a quiet few days. The first real chance to get wet and enjoy it is the Friday afternoon of the 21st. That afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and we’ve got a little 2ft groundswell rolling in from the SSW with a 14-second period. The water is about 58°, which is normal for the time of year. The energy is moderate at 371. It’s small, but it’s clean, and that’s all we need to start.
After that, we get a few more little windows. The Sunday morning of the 23rd has another glassy morning with a similar sized 3ft WNW swell (period 8 seconds) and energy at 234. It’s not going to be epic, but it’ll be rideable and you’ll have it to yourself. Then we hit a lull. From the 24th through the 27th, it’s mostly onshore winds and tiny waves. That’s a solid four-day stretch where I wouldn't bother.
Things perk up again as we head into the end of August. The morning of Friday the 28th brings clean, cross-offshore conditions with a 2ft S swell (15 seconds) and energy at 204. Not big, but clean. The Saturday morning of the 29th is the standout of the whole forecast. We’ve got glassy conditions, a 2ft SSW groundswell with a very long 17-second period, and the energy is a solid 332. This is a long-period groundswell, so at Cox Bay, a beach and point setup, it might be a little straight, but the glassy wind makes it worth it. This is your session. Get out there early.
The following week keeps the trend of small, clean windows. The Sunday the 30th has a 3ft SW swell (16 seconds) with clean, cross-offshore wind, and the energy is the strongest of the whole run at 431. Still a small wave, but plenty of push. The Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September both offer glassy mornings with knee-high, long-period swell. If you want a quiet, clean paddle, these are your mornings.
The last few days in the first week of September drop off again. The morning of Thursday the 3rd has a tiny 1ft SW groundswell (16 seconds) and glassy conditions, but it’s barely a ripple. The morning of Friday the 4th has a cleaner look with a 2ft SW swell (19 seconds, very long period) and cross-offshore wind, but again, it’s small.
Overall, don’t expect any size. This is a period for small-wave gear and patience. The Saturday the 29th morning is your best bet for the cleanest, most fun little waves. The Sunday the 30th morning has the most energy, but it’s still a small swell. Get on it while it’s glassy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
396 | 273 | 197 | 186 | 183 | 178 | 112 | 109 | 76 | 101 | 74 | 129 | 114 | 203 | 311 | 103 | 183 | 216 | 163 | 161 | 159 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:51PM2.92m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:18PM1.78m | 2:17AM1.09m | 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 | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 8 | W 7 | SW 18 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 |
396 | 147 | 197 | 161 | 173 | 118 | 112 | 109 | 76 | 67 | 65 | 55 | 38 | 203 | 47 | 59 | 183 | 216 | 51 | 40 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | W 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 6 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
220 | 110 | 188 | 186 | 183 | 178 | 101 | 99 | 67 | 10 | 41 | 129 | 114 | 30 | 311 | 103 | 65 | 120 | 163 | 161 | 159 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | SSW 16 | W 11 | W 13 | 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 | SSW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
4 | 273 | 37 | 3 | 15 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 66 | 66 | 6 | 42 | 42 | 43 | 64 | 63 | 95 | 59 | 68 | 57 | 55 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | SE 3 | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 4 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 5 | — | SE 3 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | 101 | 74 | 81 | — | 65 | 21 | 82 | 73 | 53 | — | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 145 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 17 | 163 | 0 | 1021 | 9 | 119 | 883 | 93 | 123 | 763 | 93 | 825 | 1021 | 17 |
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.











