Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 171 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 0.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM. 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 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down the situation at Japs Cove. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this forecast is a bit of a bummer. We’ve got a long stretch of ugly conditions from now, through the rest of August and into early September.
Starting Wednesday the 19th of August, and for the next ten days, it’s pretty grim. The swell is tiny, from 1ft to 3ft, coming from the SSW or SW. The problem is the wind. It’s almost always blowing cross-onshore, turning the surface into a mess. The wave energy is weak to moderate, but it doesn’t matter because the quality is just poor.
However, there is one bright spot. On Sunday morning, the 30th of August, the wind is set to go glassy – that’s a huge win. The swell is 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so the waves will have more energy and shape, but you’ll be waiting longer between sets. For a sheltered reef like Japs Cove, that long period is perfect for clean, lined-up waves. The combined energy is a moderate 360. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. This is the only real window of quality in the entire 16-day outlook. But don’t get too excited; by the afternoon, the cross-onshore wind is back, and it’s choppy again.
After that, it’s back to the same old story. From Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 3rd of September, it’s more small, wind-affected surf. The waves are just too small and the wind too messy for anything worth paddling out for.
So, here’s the bottom line: Your only chance for a decent surf is that glassy morning on Sunday, the 30th of August. The rest of the time, you’re better off finding something else to do. The water is a bit warmer than usual, but that doesn’t help when the waves are chopped out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 125 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 50 | 50 | 120 | 127 | 111 | 112 | 111 | 101 | 135 | 132 | 91 | 124 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:56PM1.81m | 8:34AM1.36m | 5:13PM1.84m | 8:37AM1.43m | 6:14PM1.92m | 8:51AM1.49m | 7:01PM2.01m | 9:07AM1.54m | 7:41PM2.10m | 9:25AM1.60m | 8:16PM2.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:09PM0.74m | 00:27AM0.64m | 10:12AM1.35m | 1:17AM0.53m | 12:01PM1.32m | 1:55AM0.42m | 12:56PM1.25m | 2:26AM0.34m | 1:36PM1.16m | 2:54AM0.28m | 2:11PM1.06m | 3:20AM0.24m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 19 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 41 | 23 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 17 | 23 | 31 | 37 | 24 | 57 | 44 | 42 | 101 | 135 | 132 | 91 | 124 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 125 | 118 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 49 | 68 | 42 | 42 | 120 | 58 | 111 | 103 | 106 | 29 | 58 | 57 | 57 | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 12 | SW 18 | S 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 10 | S 11 | W 17 | W 16 |
| kJ | 13 | 56 | 14 | 3 | 50 | 21 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 127 | 20 | 112 | 111 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 20 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 15 | — | — | 14 | 74 | — | 41 | 91 | 57 | 64 | 73 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 10 | 64 | 9 | 11 | 51 | 11 | 73 | 83 | 11 | 83 | 127 | 15 | 73 | 127 | 11 | 73 | 156 | 17 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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