Japs Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.72° N 118.34° W

Japs Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 11 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Japs Cove sea temperature is
20.4° C
2.3° 

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 11 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SSE swell with 286 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 5s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sat 11th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Best Surf 8PM (Sat 11th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sat 18th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 17s

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


Alright, it's Rusty here. Let's have a look at what this 16-day stretch has to offer us.

Well, I gotta be straight with you. This outlook is a tough one. We're looking at a long, lean run with very little to get excited about. The first real bit of surfable conditions doesn't pop up until Wednesday the 15th, and even then, it's a whisper. We're talking over a week of waiting with almost nothing to recommend.

The only spot on the radar is Japs Cove, and it's an inconsistent, advanced reef setup that's quite sheltered. When there's nothing else, that's where we look.

Right out of the gate, the water is running at 69°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—a solid 4° above average. That’s notable.

So, for the bulk of this run, the surf is just poor. Through Saturday the 11th, Sunday the 12th, Monday the 13th, and Tuesday the 14th, you've got a tiny, weak swell with onshore or cross-onshore breezes. Combined swell energy is very weak, sitting between 129 and 235, so don't even bother paddling out. It’s all poor conditions, a bit choppy, with small wind ripples. Not surfable.

The one glimmer comes on Wednesday morning, July 15th. The swell is still tiny at 1 ft from the SW, but here's the kicker: the wind goes glassy. It’s dead calm—a "slight air" with a glassy surface. The period stretches out to a very long 18 seconds, so you’re getting long lines of groundswell energy. For an advanced reef like Japs Cove, that long-period stuff can wrap in and offer something, even if it's small. The combined energy reading is 197, which is still very weak. The official word is "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and I think that’s about right. It won’t be epic, but a clean 1 ft wave at a tricky reef is better than a paddling workout. This is the one standout in the whole outlook, but keep expectations low.

After that, we slide back into poor conditions through the rest of that week and into the next. Thursday the 16th, Friday the 17th, Saturday the 18th, Sunday the 19th, Monday the 20th... it’s the same story: tiny swells, 1 ft to 2 ft, with cross-onshore winds chopping it up. The combined energy starts to build a little by the 18th and 19th, hitting 479 and 398, which means there’s more water moving around, but the wind and conditions don't cooperate.

Then we hit Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th. This is where it gets interesting, but it's a long way out. We’ve got a 2 ft to 3 ft SW swell with a very long period of 18 to 21 seconds. The combined energy jumps way up to 421 and 515 – that’s moderate energy now. But here's the catch: the winds are onshore or cross-onshore, and the model is still calling it "poor surf conditions." For a sheltered reef, that onshore wind is a killer. It’s a promising window from a swell-standpoint, but with those winds, it's looking messy. It’s too far out to trust, so file that under "check back later."

Honestly, for this stretch, Wednesday the 15th morning is your best bet for a sneaky, clean little session. For the rest, just wait and see if those later swells clean up.

Stay patient,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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)
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
13
0.3
SW
19
0.3
SW
19
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
16
1.2
W
8
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
193
193
170
183
178
107
139
101
59
59
61
109
108
95
159
89
88
91
94
74
76
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
S
5
SSW
10
SSW
15
W
5
S
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
WSW
10
WSW
20
W
5
SSE
5
S
20
W
15
ESE
10
S
15
S
15
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
10
SSE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:38AM1.42m
7:12PM2.43m
9:27AM1.51m
8:05PM2.53m
10:11AM1.58m
8:57PM2.58m
10:54AM1.64m
9:46PM2.56m
11:35AM1.69m
10:35PM2.45m
12:17PM1.75m
11:24PM2.25m
12:59PM1.80m
00:13AM2.00m
Low Tide
12:36PM1.13m
2:47AM0.00m
1:38PM1.10m
3:34AM-0.12m
2:35PM1.05m
4:19AM-0.16m
3:30PM1.00m
5:03AM-0.12m
4:24PM0.97m
5:44AM-0.01m
5:21PM0.95m
6:24AM0.16m
6:21PM0.96m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:06
8:05
8:05
8:05
8:04
8:04
8:02
 mm
Temp °C
17
18
18
19
20
20
21
21
21
21
22
21
23
24
23
22
23
22
22
22
21
Feels °C
17
17
19
19
19
20
21
20
21
21
21
20
24
23
23
22
23
23
22
22
22
  • 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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