Japs Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.72° N 118.34° W

Japs Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 06 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Japs Cove sea temperature is
22.2° C
3.4° 

Japs Cove surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Japs Cove surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with 240 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s 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 0.6m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 7th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 18s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 7th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 18s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 8th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this stretch isn’t giving us much to work with. We’ve got a 16-day window, and the first bit of surf that’s even worth mentioning doesn’t show until Thursday, 6 August. Even then, it’s a tough sell.

The only break on the cards is Japs Cove, a tricky, inconsistent reef setup that’s for advanced surfers only. It’s sheltered from most swell, so it needs a specific angle to even think about working. The water is sitting at a very unusual 72°F, which is a solid 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year—that’s a proper anomaly, feels more like a bath than a surf.

Right from the start on Thursday morning, it’s a letdown. Swell is tiny at 1ft from the SW, with a long period of 13 seconds. The wind is a light cross-onshore, but the combined energy is weak (103), and the wave comment calls it “poor surf conditions.” That theme sticks around all day and into Friday, 7 August. Friday morning sees a little bump in energy (202) with a 1ft SSW swell and a very long 19-second period, but the wind is onshore, and the setup is still poor. The longer period might sound nice, but at a sheltered reef like this, it’s just not enough juice.

Saturday, 8 August, and Sunday, 9 August, are more of the same—tiny swells (2ft to 2ft), cross-onshore or onshore winds, and combined energy climbing a bit (up to 214 on Saturday, then 194 on Sunday), but it’s all “poor surf conditions.” Monday, 10 August, through Wednesday, 12 August, stay in the same rut: 1ft to 2ft swells, onshore or cross-onshore winds, and energy levels bouncing between 140 and 241. Nothing breaks the pattern.

We finally see a bit more push from Thursday, 14 August, through the weekend of 16–17 August. The swell height edges up to 2ft to 3ft, all from the SSW, with periods around 15–18 seconds. Combined energy jumps into the 300s and even hits 403 on Saturday morning, 15 August—that’s moderate wave energy now. But here’s the kicker: the wind is cross-onshore every session. The morning might have a light breeze, but the afternoons get chopped up by moderate winds. That’s 3ft with a messy surface. For a reef that’s inconsistent and rarely breaks, this is a tease. The swell direction is SSW, which lines up with the optimum direction for the spot, but without clean wind, it’s a wash.

The final week from Monday, 18 August, to Friday, 21 August, fades back to smaller stuff—1ft to 2ft swells, a mix of onshore and cross-onshore winds, and energy levels dropping back below 250. Friday afternoon, 21 August, sees a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a gentle cross-onshore, but it’s still “poor surf conditions.”

Honestly, the entire 16-day window is a write-off. There are no standout sessions. Every single entry is rated as poor. Japs Cove is a fickle spot anyway—it’s inconsistent and rarely breaks—so a blank run like this is pretty normal for the area. The only thing worth noting is that the warmer-than-average water might make the paddle out feel less punishing, but that’s about it. No decent waves to chase.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
19
0.5
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
17
0.5
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SW
19
0.3
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
62
61
81
146
143
174
172
147
223
172
121
120
105
101
96
55
154
152
143
127
125
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
20
W
5
S
10
SW
20
W
10
WSW
10
WSW
20
W
5
SSW
10
SW
15
WSW
10
SSE
10
S
15
SW
5
WSW
10
S
10
SW
10
SW
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
WSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
3:45PM2.02m
6:57AM1.25m
4:59PM2.12m
8:00AM1.37m
6:08PM2.24m
8:39AM1.49m
7:08PM2.37m
9:14AM1.59m
8:02PM2.46m
9:48AM1.69m
8:51PM2.49m
10:22AM1.78m
9:38PM2.43m
Low Tide
8:09AM1.09m
11:55PM0.54m
9:37AM1.21m
1:00AM0.33m
11:25AM1.23m
1:52AM0.15m
12:44PM1.17m
2:37AM0.01m
1:45PM1.06m
3:18AM-0.06m
2:39PM0.94m
3:57AM-0.05m
3:29PM0.84m
4:33AM0.03m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:49
7:47
7:46
7:45
7:45
7:44
7:43
 mm
Temp °C
21
21
21
21
22
21
22
23
22
22
23
22
22
23
22
22
22
22
22
22
21
Feels °C
22
20
21
22
21
20
22
22
21
23
23
22
22
23
23
23
22
22
23
22
21
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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