Surf Forecasts:
Sandy Hook/The Cove surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, ENE swell with 62 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sandy Hook/The Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Sandy Hook/The Cove in the next 16 days are 0.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandy Hook/The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s talk about the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a tough stretch. The surf is almost non-existent for the first week and a half, so you’re gonna be twiddling your thumbs.
Starting from Thursday the 20th of August, we’ve got nothing. The swell is tiny, maybe 1ft at best out of the southeast, and the wind is all over the place – cross and onshore. The wave energy is pretty weak (12 to 36). The water is running much warmer than usual for this time of year at 78°, but that doesn’t put waves on the beach. We’ve got a long run of poor conditions. You’ll see some glassy mornings on the 25th, 26th, and 29th of August, but the swell is so small (0.3ft to 1ft) you’d be better off on a paddleboard.
Then we hit a dry patch. The first few days of September are still quiet, but things perk up a little around the 2nd of September. That Wednesday morning, the energy jumps to 239, with a 5ft swell from the east-southeast. That’s the biggest we’ve seen. The problem is the wind is cross-shore and the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s going to be choppy and messy. With that wind and size, it might be more interesting for the kite guys than us.
The best shot in the whole outlook is Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell drops to 2ft in the morning, but by the afternoon, we get a 4ft east-southeast swell with a 9-second period and energy of 298. The wind is a light cross-onshore breeze, which is borderline. It’s called “marginal,” but it’s the only window where you might get a waist-high wave that’s not completely blown out. For Sandy Hook/The Cove, a beach and reef setup, that’s your best bet.
So, to sum it up: you’re waiting until the 3rd of September for the only slightly interesting session. The rest of the time? It’s flat and choppy. Keep the board waxed, but don’t get your hopes up.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun night, min 20°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) | NE 4 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 6 | SSE 4 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 8 | 11 | 62 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:25AM1.12m | 2:54PM1.35m | 3:21AM1.10m | 3:50PM1.35m | 4:22AM1.12m | 4:48PM1.38m | 5:21AM1.16m | 5:41PM1.44m | 6:12AM1.23m | 6:27PM1.50m | 6:54AM1.31m | 7:07PM1.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:31PM0.42m | 8:27AM0.43m | 9:33PM0.40m | 9:29AM0.43m | 10:26PM0.36m | 10:23AM0.39m | 11:14PM0.29m | 11:13AM0.34m | 11:59PM0.22m | 12:00PM0.29m | 00:42AM0.16m | 12:45PM0.23m | 1:23AM0.10m | ||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 7:45 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | 30 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 25 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | E 5 | SE 8 | E 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 11 | ESE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 10 | SSE 3 |
| kJ | 5 | 8 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | E 4 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 5 | SE 11 | SE 6 | SE 11 | — | SE 9 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | SE 9 | S 6 | — | SE 13 | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 12 | — | — | SE 7 | E 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 11 | SE 6 | — | SSE 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 7 | — | 3 | 2 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NNE 3 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 2 | — | — | SSE 3 | — |
| kJ | 15 | 4 | 11 | 62 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 376 | 376 | 848 | 2722 | 383 | 502 | 149 | 57 | 11 | 57 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 132 | 376 | 86 | 168 | 193 |
Best forecast wave conditions in New Jersey | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sandy Hook/The Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sandy Hook/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 Sandy Hook/The Cove can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sandy Hook/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 (Sandy Hook/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 Sandy Hook/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.
Sandy Hook/The Cove is 13 km (8 miles) from Long Branch. If you plan a vacation in New Jersey, look for hotels and other accommodation in Long Branch. Long Branch has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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