Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, S swell with 1,208 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s is also forecast. 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight – it's a lean stretch for Japs Cove. This is a sheltered, advanced reef break that doesn't fire often, and for the first five days, you're looking at a whole lot of nothing. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft, and the wind is junk – cross-onshore or just messy. The water is sitting at 75°F, which is a wild 9°F warmer than normal for this time of year. It's like the ocean forgot what season it is, but even that can't save the surf.
The window finally opens on Sunday the 6th. That morning, a clean 3ft S swell rolls in with a light cross-offshore wind from the NW. The combined energy climbs to 493 (moderate), and conditions are clean. Not a standout by any means, but it's surfable.
Then, Monday the 7th is your best bet. The morning brings a 5ft S swell with a period of 15 seconds – that's proper groundswell, holding good energy at 1135 (strong). The wind is light from the NNW, cross-offshore, keeping things clean. This is the one. It's not huge, but for this tucked-away reef, 5ft from the SSW (matching the optimum direction) with light offshore wind will shape up nicely. Expect some long lulls between sets with that long period, but the waves that come through will have some punch. Afternoon holds similar size at 6ft, but the wind shifts a bit, making it a touch more marginal. Still, Monday morning is the highlight.
After that, it drops back into mediocrity. The rest of the second week is mostly poor with onshore or cross-shore junk, and the swell fades into tiny, weak dribble. There are long gaps of nothing, especially from the 8th onward, with little to recommend. If you're a dedicated advanced surfer, pencil in Monday the 7th and hope the forecast holds. For everyone else, it's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed night, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun night, min 20°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 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) | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 68 | 68 | 79 | 95 | 121 | 143 | 115 | 207 | 491 | 252 | 343 | 322 | 314 | 310 | 327 | 293 | 581 | 711 | 1117 | 1178 | 811 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 12:15PM2.03m | 1:09AM1.38m | 12:57PM2.03m | 2:54AM1.23m | 1:57PM2.00m | 6:19AM1.25m | 3:20PM2.00m | 7:21AM1.38m | 4:51PM2.05m | 7:49AM1.50m | 6:06PM2.15m | 8:17AM1.63m | 7:06PM2.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:14PM0.65m | 6:06AM0.96m | 8:35PM0.64m | 6:31AM1.11m | 10:16PM0.58m | 7:05AM1.25m | 11:45PM0.44m | 10:05AM1.32m | 00:46AM0.29m | 11:53AM1.24m | 1:34AM0.17m | 1:00PM1.09m | 2:14AM0.11m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 26 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 14 | 68 | 39 | 22 | 121 | 75 | 45 | 207 | 97 | 252 | 343 | 322 | 269 | 250 | 327 | 293 | 581 | 711 | 1117 | 1178 | 811 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 11 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 11 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 68 | 36 | 43 | 64 | 67 | 81 | 74 | 57 | 491 | 32 | 47 | 215 | 314 | 310 | 204 | 196 | 18 | 10 | 18 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 10 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSE 15 | SSW 13 | SSE 16 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 11 | W 5 | W 5 | W 12 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 38 | 49 | 79 | 95 | 2 | 143 | 115 | 19 | 21 | 116 | 82 | 11 | 40 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 10 | W 4 |
| kJ | — | 18 | 66 | — | 22 | 134 | — | 30 | — | — | 12 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | 7 | — | 8 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 156 | 64 | 15 | 0 | 73 | 40 | 11 | 156 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 21 | 156 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 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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