Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with 240 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Japs Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Japs Cove in the next 16 days are 0.6m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 5AM. 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+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Well, don’t get your hopes up too high, because the next 16 days at Japs Cove are looking pretty grim. This is a sheltered reef setup that only works on a south-southwest swell, and we just aren’t getting the love we need. The swell energy is weak to moderate at best, nothing above 308, and the waves themselves barely tickle the 2ft mark. For the first two weeks, every session is marked by poor surf conditions – it’s flat or near-flat, with a lot of cross-onshore or onshore wind messing things up. There’s a long stretch from the start of August right through to the 15th where you’d be lucky to get a ride. The water temp is sitting at a very unusual 72° – that’s a hefty 7° warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’ll feel like a warm bath out there on the (Big Island) coast.
The only tiny glimmer comes right at the end on Sunday the 16th of August – the morning session. We’ve got a light cross-offshore breeze from the north-northwest, making things clean for a change. The swell is still only 2ft from the south-southwest, with a 14-second period, so it’s a long-period groundswell. It’s an inconsistent, advanced wave, and it’s sheltered, so that period is fine for this reef. It will pick up some shape, but it’s still a very small wave. The combined energy is just 153 (weak), so don't expect to get worked. It’s “surfable but very ordinary” – one to paddle out on a longboard for a few lonely turns. Crowds are only “sometimes” an issue anyway, so it’ll be quiet. Honestly, for the experts who know this spot, it’s a scrap, but it’s the only day with even a hint of decency in the entire 16-day window. The rest is a total write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 85 | 99 | 46 | 47 | 49 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 60 | 56 | 73 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 62 | 61 | 81 | 146 | 143 | 174 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:10PM1.72m | 11:26PM1.90m | 12:38PM1.78m | 00:07AM1.71m | 1:10PM1.84m | 1:00AM1.50m | 1:49PM1.90m | 2:19AM1.30m | 2:40PM1.95m | 4:36AM1.19m | 3:45PM2.02m | 6:57AM1.25m | 4:59PM2.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:34PM0.97m | 6:06AM0.49m | 6:25PM0.94m | 6:30AM0.64m | 7:28PM0.91m | 6:56AM0.79m | 8:49PM0.86m | 7:26AM0.94m | 10:27PM0.73m | 8:09AM1.09m | 11:55PM0.54m | 9:37AM1.21m | 1:00AM0.33m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 12 | W 4 | W 5 | SW 14 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 18 | 99 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 24 | 23 | 42 | 20 | 13 | 37 | 10 | 12 | 70 | 17 | 7 | 61 | 61 | 146 | 65 | 174 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 5 | W 4 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 85 | 32 | 32 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 56 | 73 | 70 | 13 | 69 | 62 | 4 | 3 | 84 | 143 | 36 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 6 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 9 | SW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | W 4 | W 12 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 55 | 10 | 46 | 30 | 49 | 28 | 42 | 9 | 41 | 60 | — | 2 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 37 | 39 | 81 | 3 | 3 | 35 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | W 4 | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | 15 | 14 | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 127 | 21 | 11 | 73 | 11 | 11 | 128 | 9 | 11 | 128 | 40 | 11 | 156 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 158 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Japs Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Japs Cove provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Japs Cove can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Japs Cove 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 (Japs Cove) 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 Japs Cove 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.
Japs Cove is 5 km (3 miles) from Rancho Palos Verdes. If you plan a vacation in Los Angeles County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Rancho Palos Verdes. Rancho Palos Verdes has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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