Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 397 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period with SSW 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 30) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5PM. 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+) | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here.
Look, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at Japs Cove are a real tough watch for anyone wanting to get a wave. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with pretty much nothing worth paddling out for. There’s no standout surf on offer at all.
Starting from Wednesday the 29th of July, we’ve got a tiny bit of swell at 3 ft from the SSW with a long 16-second period (508 energy). Sounds okay on paper, but the wind is all wrong – cross-onshore – and the reports are calling it poor. The water is sitting at a very unusual 72°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. Could be a nice swim, but the surf is a no-go.
From there, it just fades out. Through Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st, the swell stays small at 2 ft to 3 ft with a mix of onshore and cross-onshore winds. The energy drops from 364 down to 223, and it’s still poor. The Saturday and Sunday that follow (1st and 2nd of August) see the swell drop to 1 ft-2 ft with energy falling below 100, basically flat.
We then hit a proper dry spell. From Monday the 3rd of August right through to Wednesday the 13th of August, it’s the same story – tiny 1 ft to 2 ft waves, mostly SSW or SW, with periods up to 19 seconds. The energy stays weak (between 89 and 234), and every single session is marked as poor conditions. Even the longer-period groundswells around the 7th and 8th (19-second and 17-second periods) don’t bring anything worth chasing – wind keeps it messy.
Japs Cove is a reef break that’s inconsistent and only for advanced surfers, but with only sheltered exposure to the SSW, it really needs everything to line up. Nothing is lining up here. This is a blank run. For an area this exposed to the south, a run this poor is pretty normal. I wouldn’t hold your breath for any change – forecasts can shift, but right now, it’s a quiet stretch.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri 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 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 318 | 397 | 284 | 215 | 196 | 213 | 269 | 168 | 166 | 105 | 135 | 46 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 60 | 56 | 73 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:53AM1.58m | 9:43PM2.23m | 11:19AM1.62m | 10:16PM2.17m | 11:44AM1.67m | 10:50PM2.06m | 12:10PM1.72m | 11:26PM1.90m | 12:38PM1.78m | 00:07AM1.71m | 1:10PM1.84m | 1:00AM1.50m | 1:49PM1.90m | 2:19AM1.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:34PM1.05m | 4:52AM0.21m | 4:11PM1.01m | 5:18AM0.28m | 4:50PM0.99m | 5:42AM0.37m | 5:34PM0.97m | 6:06AM0.49m | 6:25PM0.94m | 6:30AM0.64m | 7:28PM0.91m | 6:56AM0.79m | 8:49PM0.86m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | W 7 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 318 | 397 | 284 | 215 | 134 | 213 | 269 | 168 | 166 | 31 | 135 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 16 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 56 | 73 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 14 | SSW 15 | S 12 | W 6 | SW 15 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 6 |
| kJ | 172 | 165 | 90 | 138 | 196 | 72 | 16 | 34 | 23 | 105 | 21 | 37 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 38 | 36 | 37 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 18 | 18 | 11 | 11 | — | 10 | — | — | 34 | 34 | 15 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 28 | 42 | 9 | 41 | 60 | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 11 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 73 | 10 | 156 | 127 | 10 | 11 | 127 | 4 | 11 | 127 | 11 | 11 | 77 | 9 | 11 | 73 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
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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