
Surf Forecasts:
Rincon - The Cove surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WNW swell with 160 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rincon - The Cove this week:
The surf forecast for Rincon - The Cove over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rincon - The Cove in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rincon - The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour. This is Rusty, and the outlook for the next couple weeks is looking a bit thin. We’ve got a 16-day window, but the first stretch is pretty much dead.
Starting Friday the 11th, the water temp is sitting at about 71°, which is a full 8° warmer than normal—that’s a huge anomaly and tells you how off the pattern is. The swell is tiny, only 2 ft from the southwest, with a long 15-second period but really weak energy (147). Wind is light but cross-shore, and it’s all poor conditions. This runs through Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th. Swell bumps up to 3 ft from the west on Sunday, but the period drops to 9 seconds, so it’s short-period and weak. Combined energy is still weak (around 150-180). The afternoons clean up a little with a cross-off wind, but the waves are ordinary at best.
The whole week stays in this rut. Swell stays small, 1 ft to 3 ft, with short periods or weak energy. A few afternoons see clean wind but nothing worth writing home about.
Then around Sunday the 20th afternoon, we get a bit of life. Swell is still only about 2 ft from the southwest, but the period stretches to 18 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 244—that’s the first moderate energy we’ve seen. Winds are light and cross-off, making for clean conditions. Monday the 21st holds that energy, with combined readings around 207-220. This is the best of the forecast, but it’s still small.
The standout spot is Rincon - The Cove. It’s a consistent point break, and while the swell direction from the southwest isn’t its ideal north-northwest angle, the clean afternoon winds and the energy bump on the 20th and 21st make those the go-to sessions. Expect waves around waist-high, with that long 18-second period making the lines a bit more defined, but the size keeps it mellow.
After Tuesday the 22nd, the energy fades again, and we’re back to tiny swells and weak readings through the end of the month. The second week is less certain, but it doesn’t look promising.
Honestly, it’s a lean stretch. If you’re itching to paddle, hit the Cove on the afternoon of the 20th or the 21st with a longboard. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
107 | 104 | 102 | 52 | 49 | 101 | 110 | 59 | 113 | 78 | 55 | 79 | 50 | 38 | 119 | 74 | 100 | 98 | 85 | 84 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 10:28PM1.66m | 10:55AM1.68m | 11:12PM1.49m | 11:24AM1.69m | 00:00AM1.30m | 11:53AM1.66m | 00:55AM1.12m | 12:23PM1.60m | 2:11AM0.97m | 12:59PM1.51m | 1:47PM1.42m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 4:25PM0.20m | 4:41AM0.09m | 5:09PM0.16m | 5:08AM0.27m | 5:55PM0.16m | 5:34AM0.45m | 6:45PM0.19m | 5:57AM0.63m | 7:43PM0.24m | 6:14AM0.79m | 8:58PM0.29m | 10:33PM0.29m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 5 |
107 | 22 | 21 | 13 | 41 | 101 | 110 | 59 | 113 | 78 | 55 | 79 | 50 | 11 | 119 | 74 | 100 | 98 | 85 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
14 | 104 | 102 | 52 | 49 | 46 | 28 | 47 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 45 | 44 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 11 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | WNW 8 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | W 5 | SSW 21 | SSW 15 |
26 | 21 | 18 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 38 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 32 | 5 | 45 | 84 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | — | W 4 | WNW 6 | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | — | — | SSE 2 | SSE 3 | — | — | W 8 | — | — | W 4 | W 5 |
— | 32 | — | 14 | 118 | — | 23 | 71 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 11 | — | — | 4 | 27 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 0 | 89 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 45 | 0 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 117 | 0 | 109 | 34 | 0 | 89 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Ventura County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rincon - The Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rincon - The Cove provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rincon - The Cove can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rincon - The 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 (Rincon - The 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 Rincon - The 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.
Rincon - The Cove is 20 km (12 miles) from the city of Santa Ana. If you plan a vacation in Ventura County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Ana. Santa Ana has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










