Surf Forecasts:
Sandy Hook/The Cove surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, SSE swell with 39 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandy Hook/The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The scoop on Sandy Hook/The Cove is pretty simple for the next 16 days: there’s barely a wave to be had. The water is sitting at 77°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you could swim, but you won’t be surfing much.
We kick off Monday the 17th with tiny 2ft swell out of the SE, period a short 6 seconds, and only 35 units of energy (35). It’s clean but the surf is poor. Tuesday morning the 18th goes glassy with 1ft swell, but it’s still junk. Wednesday the 19th morning is dead calm, 1.0ft swell, period up to 10 seconds, but the energy is only 26 (26) and the waves are just too small to paddle for. Thursday the 20th through to the end of August stays tiny, with swell heights mostly under 2ft and energy in the single digits or teens. There’s a bit of a bump on Saturday the 22nd with a long period 13-second swell, but it’s onshore wind and only 0.3ft – useless.
The only real standout comes late in the period. On Friday the 28th of August, the energy climbs to 144 (144) with a 2ft SE swell, period 14 seconds. That’s the highest energy in the whole run, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore and the surf quality is still rated poor. It’s a long period groundswell, which can work well at a reef setup like The Cove, but the wind is messy. If you’re an expert and get desperate, that might be your window, but it’s not a day for beginners.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see a bit more size, up to 3ft on Sunday afternoon with 117 energy (117), but again the wind is cross-off or cross-on, and the waves are weak. The whole 16-day window is a flat spell. Honestly, for paddle surfing, there’s nothing worth chasing. If you’ve got a kite, the stronger winds later in the period might make it more interesting, but for a surfboard, it’s a blank run.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 10 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 35 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:43AM1.51m | 11:56PM1.34m | 12:30PM1.47m | 00:45AM1.25m | 1:16PM1.42m | 1:34AM1.17m | 2:03PM1.38m | 2:25AM1.12m | 2:54PM1.35m | 3:21AM1.10m | 3:50PM1.35m | 4:22AM1.12m | 4:48PM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:36PM0.21m | 5:48AM0.18m | 6:26PM0.31m | 6:31AM0.29m | 7:25PM0.38m | 7:24AM0.38m | 8:31PM0.42m | 8:27AM0.43m | 9:33PM0.40m | 9:29AM0.43m | 10:26PM0.36m | 10:23AM0.39m | 11:14PM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 27 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SSE 3 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 35 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | — | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | S 13 | ESE 4 | — | SE 10 | — | SE 6 | S 4 | ESE 6 | SSE 3 | — | S 5 | — | — | SE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 7 |
| kJ | — | 9 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | — | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | SE 10 | — | SE 9 | SE 6 | — | — | — | SE 14 | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | SE 7 | SE 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 15 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | — | 7 | 7 | — | — | 2 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | S 4 | — | SSE 3 | — | ENE 3 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | S 2 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 4 | — | 3 | — | 2 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 23 | 5 | 191 | 5 | 11 | 193 | 374 | 375 | 1293 | 380 | 132 | 35 | 132 | 264 | 86 | 11 | 243 | 11 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in New Jersey | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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