Surf Forecasts:
Japs Cove surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 443 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11AM. 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 (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Japs Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’ve had a good look at the waves for Japs Cove over the next couple of weeks.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. For the first week and a half, it’s pretty flat and messy. The swell is tiny through the end of August, mostly around 1ft to 1ft. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so the surface is chopped up and pretty ordinary. We get a bit of energy building mid-week from the 25th, with the combined swell energy hitting 403 (moderate energy), but the wind is all wrong and the waves are still only 2ft. Not worth the paddle.
Through the 26th to the 28th, the swell picks up a bit, with heights around 3ft to 3ft, and the swell period hangs around 12 to 14 seconds – that’s a little bit of groundswell. But again, the wind is mostly cross-onshore and the commentary says “poor surf conditions”. The combined energy gets up to 550 on the 27th morning, which is moderate to strong energy, but without clean wind, it’s not happening.
We get a gap of nothing really worth mentioning until we hit the morning of the 2nd of September. That morning, the wind goes glassy. It’s a tiny 1ft, long-period 16-second SSW groundswell, and the combined energy is only 160, so it’s weak. But with glassy conditions, you might get a few clean little peelers if you’re on a log. It’ll be super small, though.
The standout is Friday morning, the 4th of September. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The swell jumps to 3ft from the SSE with a 16-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy is 594 (strong energy), and the wind goes glassy in the morning. That’s what we want. Those long-period swells will wrap into the cove nicely from the SSW optimum direction. Glassy, clean, and punchy for the size. Crowds can be an issue at Japs Cove, but with a morning session, you should be sweet.
Saturday the 5th morning has a bit more size at 4ft, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it won’t be as clean as Friday.
Just remember, Japs Cove is an advanced reef break, and it can be inconsistent. But when it lines up with that glassy wind and long-period swell, it’s a little slice of paradise.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing crazy.
Get on it for Friday the 4th. That’s the call.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue night, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 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 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 50 | 50 | 120 | 126 | 111 | 112 | 111 | 98 | 173 | 132 | 91 | 183 | 236 | 297 | 276 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 9:44AM1.66m | 8:51PM2.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:46PM0.96m | 3:44AM0.25m | ||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | S 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 6 | S 13 | S 13 | W 7 | S 14 | W 7 |
| kJ | 115 | 10 | 68 | 9 | 16 | 31 | 24 | 23 | 57 | 103 | 31 | 98 | 173 | 83 | 87 | 121 | 113 | 297 | 110 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 14 | SW 16 | S 13 |
| kJ | 14 | 69 | 49 | 68 | 42 | 42 | 120 | 58 | 111 | 112 | 106 | 29 | 58 | 132 | 91 | 89 | 236 | 86 | 276 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | SW 18 | S 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 16 | S 10 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 10 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 16 | SW 16 | W 14 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 3 | 50 | 21 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 126 | 20 | 2 | 111 | 37 | 2 | 58 | 2 | 46 | 124 | 16 | 33 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | — | — | 15 | — | — | 14 | 21 | — | 29 | 75 | 130 | 91 | 183 | — | 63 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 11 | 51 | 0 | 83 | 127 | 11 | 11 | 127 | 9 | 73 | 83 | 11 | 77 | 71 | 9 | 10 | 73 | 9 |
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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