Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with 223 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s 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 (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, folks, I've gotta be straight with you—this is a tough one to write. I've been staring at the charts for Japs Cove (Japs-Cove) and honestly, it's a bit of a bust for the next couple of weeks. We're looking at a full 16-day window with nothing but "poor surf conditions" flagged every single session. That's a long stretch of flat, weak, or messy waves.
Let's break it down. We start off Monday the 17th of August with a tiny 2ft SSW swell, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore, and the combined energy is weak. That pattern just repeats itself day after day. The swell hangs around the 1.0ft to 2ft range, mostly from the SSW or SW, with periods that are all over the place—some short, some long—but none of it matters because the quality is shot. The combined energy stays in the weak to moderate zone.
The winds are a constant problem. We get a mix of light onshore breezes that just put a little crinkle on the surface, and stronger moderate breezes that chop it up proper. There's a brief moment on the afternoon of Friday the 28th of August where the wind goes cross-off and the report says "clean," but the swell is still only 2ft and the energy is moderate—it's just not enough to get excited about. For a spot like Japs Cove, which is a sheltered reef and only breaks on a specific SSW swell direction, this is a real dry spell. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.
If you're looking for a standout, there isn't one. The best I can say is keep an eye on those late August dates, like the 29th and 30th, where the swell pushes up to 2ft and the energy climbs, but the wind is still a problem. For a break that's inconsistent at the best of times, this is a long period of nothing. Honestly, with the combination of small swell, poor wind, and a reef setup that's not handling it, this might be more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers.
Hang in there. Forecasts can change, and a place like this tends not to stay poor forever. But for now, I'd leave the board in the car.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 186 | 186 | 180 | 146 | 109 | 142 | 209 | 217 | 125 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 50 | 50 | 120 | 127 | 111 | 112 |
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 | on | on | cross | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 1:11PM1.93m | 1:48AM1.36m | 1:51PM1.88m | 3:40AM1.21m | 2:44PM1.83m | 3:56PM1.81m | 8:34AM1.36m | 5:13PM1.84m | 8:37AM1.43m | 6:14PM1.92m | 8:51AM1.49m | 7:01PM2.01m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:03PM0.79m | 6:56AM0.97m | 9:28PM0.80m | 7:11AM1.13m | 11:09PM0.74m | 00:27AM0.64m | 10:12AM1.35m | 1:17AM0.53m | 12:01PM1.32m | 1:55AM0.42m | 12:56PM1.25m | 2:26AM0.34m | |||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 5 |
| kJ | 186 | 186 | 60 | 50 | 35 | 47 | 209 | 217 | 125 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 42 | 42 | 120 | 58 | 57 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 8 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | WSW 5 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 14 |
| kJ | 31 | 32 | 180 | 146 | 70 | 142 | 25 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 5 | 127 | 111 | 103 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | W 10 | SW 9 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 5 | S 16 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 42 | 109 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 5 | 20 | 112 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — |
| kJ | — | 27 | — | — | 64 | — | — | 18 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 9 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 127 | 127 | 11 | 11 | 51 | 11 | 11 | 127 | 11 | 11 | 73 | 9 | 11 | 73 | 11 | 11 | 51 | 9 | 73 | 127 | 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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