Japs Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.72° N 118.34° W

Japs Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 05 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Japs Cove sea temperature is
22.6° C
3.9° 

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 13s. 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 cross-shore 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

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch. We’ve got a sheltered little reef set-up at Japs Cove, and it’s an inconsistent spot that needs very specific conditions to line up. For the next 16 days, the swell is tiny and the wind is mostly getting in the way. The water is sitting at a very unusual 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, a good 7°F above the average, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit or less.

Right from the get-go, Wednesday afternoon, we’ve got a weak 1ft SW groundswell coming through with a 14-second period, so it’s got some decent energy in the water (92 combined energy), but that 12 mph cross-onshore wind from the west is just going to chop it up. It’s a no-go. Thursday and Friday are more of the same – tiny, messy, and poor.

The weekend of the 7th and 8th sees the swell barely bump up to 2ft, and the combined energy pushes into the moderate range (up to 211), but again, the wind is cross-onshore or onshore, keeping it choppy and uninviting. Saturday morning the 8th has a light cross-onshore which might leave a few small wind ripples, but it’s still not worth a paddle.

The following week doesn’t offer much relief. The swell stays small, between 1ft and 3ft, and the wind stays frustrating. By the 14th (Friday) and 15th (Saturday), the swell does creep up to 2ft and 3ft, and the combined energy gets strong, hitting 324 and 407. That’s real energy in the water, but it’s a very long period groundswell (16-19 seconds) which can make the reef at Japs Cove tricky and make the waves stand up too straight. The wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bumpy, poor session. This is a setup that might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle board.

Now, there is one tiny window. On the morning of the 16th (Sunday), the stars almost align. We’ve got a 3ft SSW groundswell with a 16-second period, giving strong energy (353), and the wind goes glassy. That’s a big deal. That’s the only time in the whole forecast where you’ll find clean, glassy conditions. The waves will be surfable, but honestly, the commentary says it’s very ordinary, so temper your expectations. The rest of the 16th and the week after that is back to the same old story of onshore wind and small, weak surf.

So, the standout? It has to be the morning of the 16th. That’s your best bet. It’s a long way out, so don’t bank on it, but if the glassy wind holds, you might snag a few clean ones on the reef. Everything else is a write-off.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

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

Wed
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
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
1
0
0
1
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
14
0.4
SW
14
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
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
70
69
62
61
81
146
143
174
172
147
223
172
121
120
105
101
96
55
154
152
Wind (km/h)
15
W
10
WSW
10
S
15
WSW
5
S
10
SSW
20
W
5
WSW
10
SW
20
W
5
SW
10
S
15
WSW
10
SSE
15
SSE
10
SSW
5
SSW
10
S
10
SSW
5
S
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
2:40PM1.95m
4:36AM1.19m
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
Low Tide
10:27PM0.73m
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
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<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
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:50
7:49
7:47
7:46
7:45
7:45
7:44
 mm
Temp °C
20
20
20
21
21
21
22
22
22
23
22
22
23
22
22
22
21
22
22
21
Feels °C
20
20
21
21
21
22
22
22
23
22
21
22
23
22
22
22
22
23
22
22
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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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