Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, S swell with 602 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s 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 (Sep 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 6s 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 1.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) 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+) | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what’s on the cards for Japs Cove.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day stretch is a tough one for Japs Cove. We’re looking at a solid run of poor conditions for the next week and a half. It’s not until Sunday, September 6th, that we finally see a glimmer of hope, and even that’s a short-lived window. Up until then, it's a mix of messy cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions, with swells barely cracking 3ft. The water temp is a whopping 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that doesn’t help the wave quality.
Now, the one bright spot in this whole outlook is early Sunday, September 6th. That morning, the wind is forecast to go glassy with a light southerly breeze, and we get a pulse of groundswell pushing in at 4ft from the south. The period is a solid 15 seconds, so there’s some proper energy there. The combined energy reading is moderate (538). For a sheltered spot like Japs Cove that likes a good SSW direction, this is the best alignment of the whole window. It won't be big, but with that glassy surface, it could offer up some clean, lined-up runners off the reef. Keep in mind this break only works for advanced crew, and it can be inconsistent, but when a spot like this turns on with glass, it’s a special thing. Crowds are a possibility here though.
Beyond that Sunday morning, the rest of the period falls apart again. The wind swings back to the west and cross-onshore, killing any quality. Despite a few pulses of moderate wave energy (like the 631 on Friday afternoon), the conditions stay choppy and poor. Later in the second week, around September 11th, we see a short-period (7 seconds) west swell bump up to 6ft, but with a strong cross-onshore wind, it'll just be a crumbly, messy wall of white water – probably more interesting for the kite crew than us surfers.
So, to put a bow on it: if you’ve got a board and a prayer, your best bet is to hold out for that Sunday, September 6th, morning session. Everything else in this 16-day run is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 20°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 95 | 121 | 143 | 83 | 207 | 319 | 364 | 343 | 322 | 314 | 280 | 273 | 517 | 602 | 537 | 250 | 402 | 356 | 379 | 189 | 373 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 8:45AM1.75m | 7:57PM2.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:53PM0.92m | 2:50AM0.11m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:08 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 22 | 121 | 81 | 41 | 207 | 55 | 364 | 343 | 322 | 314 | 253 | 222 | 517 | 602 | 537 | 250 | 402 | 356 | 379 | 121 | 373 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 5 | WSW 10 | W 5 | S 12 | SW 19 | W 4 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 64 | 67 | 143 | 74 | 57 | 319 | 22 | 163 | 210 | 189 | 280 | 273 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 180 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 189 | 94 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | W 10 | S 15 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 5 | W 11 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 95 | 2 | 4 | 83 | 19 | 47 | 49 | 111 | 21 | 14 | 43 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 31 | 49 | 49 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 5 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 3 | W 5 |
| kJ | — | 19 | 109 | — | 22 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 14 | — | 7 | — | — | 5 | 24 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 73 | 19 | 10 | 51 | 9 | 10 | 51 | 0 | 11 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 24 | 83 | 51 | 19 | 128 | 73 | 23 |
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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