Surf Forecasts:
Sandy Hook/The Cove surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, ENE swell with 56 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 0.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandy Hook/The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be honest with you right off the bat: the next 16 days at Sandy Hook/The Cove look pretty grim for surfing. The wave energy is almost non-existent, with the highest combined energy hitting just 59 (59) on the 28th of August afternoon, and that’s barely a bump. Most days the energy is down in the single digits or teens. We’re looking at a long, flat stretch here.
The first bit of usable surf shows up on Friday the 21st of August, but it’s not good. Swell is a weak 1ft to 2ft from the east, with a short period of 5 to 6 seconds. The wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. The water temperature is 78°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year.
Saturday the 22nd is more of the same: tiny 1ft east swell, cross-shore wind, and just not enough push to bother. Sunday morning the 23rd sees a glassy, offshore wind from the WSW, but the swell drops to a pathetic 0.3ft with a long 12-second period – that’s all period and no height. It’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride.
The whole week that follows is a write-off. From Monday the 24th all the way through to Saturday the 5th of September, the swell never gets above 2ft. The wind does clean up on a few mornings, like Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, with offshore or cross-offshore breezes, but with wave heights of 0.3ft to 1ft, it’s a flat spells. There’s a glassy moment on Thursday the 3rd of September with 1.0ft from the SE, but again, barely a ripple.
The truth is, there are no standouts here. For a beginner-friendly spot like this, anything over 5ft starts to get too much, but we never even get close. The setup is a beach and reef, and with such tiny, weak swell, it’s more of a paddle float than a surf session. If you’re into kite surfing, the afternoons with cross-shore winds might give you something, but for a surfer? There’s nothing to chase.
Hang in there. It tends not to stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change. But right now, I’d leave the board at home.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 4 | SE 12 | SE 5 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 7:32AM1.38m | 7:44PM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:30PM0.19m | 2:02AM0.05m | ||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 7:45 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 23 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 15 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 6 | — | — | S 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 7 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 12 | — | — | E 7 | E 7 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 5 | — | S 5 | — | E 11 |
| kJ | — | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | S 3 | W 3 | — | — | W 2 | W 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | 16 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 23 | 515 | 355 | 264 | 551 | 82 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 64 | 86 | 64 | 163 | 1214 | 848 | 376 | 1214 |
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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