Surf Forecasts:
Sandy Hook/The Cove surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 57 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 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandy Hook/The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty.
Look, I gotta be straight with you. For Sandy Hook / The Cove, the next two weeks are looking pretty bleak. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, but there’s no real action cooking. The numbers just aren’t there.
From now, starting on Friday, August 28th, right through the whole first week, it’s a struggle. The swell is tiny, mostly hanging around that 1.0ft to 2ft range, and the period is short. You’re looking at mostly 7 or 8 seconds, which is just weak, crumbly windswell. The energy readings are pathetic, with values like 24 and 44 – that’s barely a ripple. There is a little bump from the SSE on the 28th and another from the SE on the 2nd of September, but the wind is messy, either cross-off or cross-on, and it’s not going to do anything for you. Most days the report just says "poor surf conditions," and that’s the truth.
We roll into the second week, and honestly, it’s more of the same. There’s a tiny pulse on Saturday, September 5th, with the swell hitting 2ft from the SE. The period jumps to 12 seconds, which is a bit more interesting, and the combined energy kicks up to 118 (moderate). That’s about the only glimmer. But it’s still small, and by Sunday it’s gone again, back down to 1.0ft. The rest of the week into September 12th is just flat. Even the glassy conditions on the 12th morning with zero wind can’t make a wave out of nothing.
This break is described as "fairly consistent" in the guidance, but right now, there’s just no swell to work with. It’s a beach and reef setup, and with the combination of tiny SE swell and a 12-second period, that Saturday afternoon might be the only time worth paddling out if you’re desperate, but it’s really just for a splash. There are no standouts here. For beginners, it’s too small to even practice on. For anyone else, it’s a session to leave the board in the car.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Fri night, min 18°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 24 | 33 | 23 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 57 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:07AM1.44m | 8:19PM1.58m | 8:42AM1.49m | 8:55PM1.55m | 9:17AM1.53m | 9:33PM1.51m | 9:57AM1.55m | 10:17PM1.44m | 10:42AM1.57m | 11:09PM1.37m | 11:35AM1.56m | 00:07AM1.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:02AM0.05m | 2:13PM0.15m | 2:39AM0.02m | 2:54PM0.12m | 3:14AM0.02m | 3:35PM0.12m | 3:49AM0.02m | 4:17PM0.13m | 4:24AM0.05m | 5:02PM0.18m | 5:03AM0.10m | 5:54PM0.24m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  |  | |  |  | |  | |
 | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 7:36 | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 30 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 24 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 31 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 3 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 4 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 24 | 33 | 23 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 57 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | E 5 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 3 | ESE 5 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 19 | — | 11 | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 15 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | E 5 | — | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | E 5 | — | ESE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 116 | 30 | 36 | 193 | 168 | 681 | 551 | 11 | 168 | 983 | 1223 | 1223 | 1680 | 302 | 477 | 185 | 5 |
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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