Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 553 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Japs Cove this week:
The surf forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Japs Cove in the next 16 days are 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11AM. 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+) | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for Japs Cove.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this stretch of the 16-day window is flat-lining. There’s not a single session that’s worth paddling out for. The first couple of weeks are looking like a real write-off, with nothing but poor surf conditions and marginal calls. From Wednesday the 22nd of July all the way through Thursday the 6th of August, it’s a long, bleak run. That’s a lot of days with the board sitting in the shed.
The swell is tiny, mostly hanging around 1 ft to 4 ft, and it’s coming from the SSW or S. The period is all over the shop – sometimes a long 26 seconds, which for a sheltered reef like Japs Cove might sound good, but it’s not enough height to do anything with. The combined energy of all swells directed here never gets out of the moderate range, and even when it pushes into the 500s or 600s, the wind and quality just kill it. The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, and it’s about the only thing that’s not a letdown.
The wind is the real problem. It’s almost always cross-on, and often a moderate breeze, which chops up what little swell there is. There’s a couple of morning sessions, like Saturday the 25th of July and Wednesday the 29th of July, that get a little onshore wind and a marginal call, but it’s still tiny and inconsistent. This is a spot that’s only for advanced surfers anyway, and it's inconsistent, so when it’s this poor, it’s a hard pass.
If you’re a kite surfer, the setup on the 1st of August afternoon with a 4 ft S swell and a cross-shore wind of 16 mph might look more interesting, but for a paddle surfer, there’s nothing here.
So, the honest truth is: there are no good surf options in this whole 16-day window. It’s a blank run. Sometimes that’s just how it goes for this area, and forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, don’t bother.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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 | W 7 | SSW 14 | SW 26 | SSW 13 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 186 | 183 | 276 | 125 | 105 | 184 | 368 | 217 | 368 | 467 | 355 | 546 | 480 | 330 | 455 | 553 | 507 | 414 | 522 | 410 | 334 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:55PM1.91m | 7:47AM1.30m | 5:48PM1.95m | 8:40AM1.37m | 6:36PM2.01m | 9:12AM1.43m | 7:20PM2.08m | 9:38AM1.48m | 7:59PM2.16m | 10:03AM1.51m | 8:35PM2.22m | 10:28AM1.54m | 9:10PM2.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:39AM1.13m | 00:51AM0.63m | 10:51AM1.23m | 1:40AM0.50m | 12:04PM1.26m | 2:19AM0.40m | 1:00PM1.24m | 2:53AM0.31m | 1:44PM1.20m | 3:25AM0.24m | 2:22PM1.14m | 3:55AM0.20m | 2:58PM1.09m | 4:24AM0.19m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 13 | W 7 | W 6 | S 12 | W 6 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 186 | 183 | 276 | 110 | 102 | 146 | 41 | 108 | 29 | 467 | 355 | 546 | 480 | 330 | 455 | 553 | 507 | 414 | 522 | 410 | 334 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | S 13 | W 6 | SW 21 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 |
| kJ | 32 | 22 | 180 | 125 | 73 | 184 | 163 | 31 | 368 | 27 | 18 | 18 | 30 | 22 | 12 | 19 | 67 | 12 | 32 | 22 | 46 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 26 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 50 | 39 | 130 | 110 | 105 | 66 | 368 | 217 | 37 | 73 | 71 | 57 | 51 | 47 | 46 | 52 | 17 | 27 | 47 | 43 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 14 | 76 | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 127 | 64 | 0 | 77 | 83 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 51 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 127 | 9 | 11 | 73 | 10 |
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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