Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SSE swell with 507 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. 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 1.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the stretch ahead for Japs Cove.
Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – this is a tough run. The whole 16-day window is a grind, and if you’re looking for a day to get excited about, you’re gonna have to be patient. The first real surf worth mentioning doesn’t show up until the morning of Friday, 4th September. Even then, it’s only a marginal call.
The swell is tiny most of the time, hanging around 1ft to 3ft, and the wind is nearly always cross or cross-onshore, chopping things up. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there. The combined wave energy stays weak to moderate, with the highest early reading at 363 (moderate energy) on Sunday the 30th, but the conditions are poor – cross-on wind and a short period swell of 15 seconds, which is long period, but it’s just not lining up right for this sheltered reef. It’s an advanced-only break and it’s inconsistent, so that’s a factor.
The real standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Friday, 4th September. The swell hits 2ft from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, which at a reef like Japs Cove can offer some proper shape. The wind is light from the SSE, cross-on, but with a slight air, so it’s almost glassy. The combined energy jumps to 563 (moderate wave energy). It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve got. The Saturday morning, 5th September, is also worth a look – 3ft, SSW, period of 16 seconds, and the wind is light from the SSW, directly onshore, but with light breeze. It’s not clean, but it’s the only two morning sessions that score a 1 out of 10.
After that, it drops back into poor surf conditions for the rest of the run. The swell gets smaller, wind stays messy, and the energy fades out. The afternoon of Sunday, 6th September, has a clean look with a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, but the swell is only 2ft and the period is 15 seconds – it’s marginal, but the wind might make it rideable for a patient surfer.
There’s a lot of nothing here. Japs Cove is a spot that can be fickle, and this forecast shows exactly why. It’s a long stretch of flat, choppy, or poor surf. You’d be better off waiting for a change in the weather pattern.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 13 | SSW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 279 | 239 | 180 | 134 | 127 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 79 | 95 | 121 | 214 | 84 | 209 | 319 | 364 | 347 | 326 | 314 | 310 | 424 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:13AM1.95m | 11:18PM1.78m | 11:41AM2.00m | 00:06AM1.58m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:22PM0.67m | 5:18AM0.65m | 6:12PM0.65m | 5:41AM0.81m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 18 | W 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 16 |
| kJ | 279 | 239 | 83 | 33 | 127 | 30 | 21 | 68 | 63 | 31 | 121 | 113 | 73 | 209 | 85 | 364 | 347 | 47 | 314 | 310 | 424 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 11 | SW 18 | S 13 | SW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 10 | SSW 16 | W 6 | SSE 14 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 51 | 15 | 180 | 134 | 75 | 69 | 68 | 36 | 79 | 84 | 67 | 73 | 79 | 50 | 319 | 39 | 27 | 326 | 37 | 111 | 201 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | W 9 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SW 19 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SW 18 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 15 | S 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | W 6 | W 6 |
| kJ | 17 | 7 | 27 | 89 | 14 | 62 | 38 | 49 | 15 | 95 | 67 | 145 | 84 | 12 | 43 | 18 | 10 | 29 | 26 | 21 | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 7 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 41 | — | — | 32 | 64 | — | 18 | 39 | — | 21 | 214 | — | 42 | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 127 | 10 | 11 | 73 | 11 | 11 | 51 | 19 | 156 | 127 | 0 | 11 | 127 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 0 |
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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