Surf Forecasts:
Sandy Hook/The Cove surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, SE swell with 81 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 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandy Hook/The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here from the Jersey Shore. Gotta be honest with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat for a proper paddle. Our only spot on the map is Sandy Hook/The Cove, a beach and reef setup that’s fairly exposed, but it’s just not getting any love from the ocean.
Right now, through the end of July and into the start of August, we’re in a real dry spell. There’s a long stretch where the wave energy is just pathetic – we’re talking figures like 5 to 49 (weak energy) for the combined swell. The swell heights are barely a whisper, mostly 0.3ft to 2ft, and a lot of it is short-period stuff (3 to 9 seconds), which means it’s just wind slop or tiny, weak waves. The wind is a mess, often cross or cross-shore, and it’s choppy or lumpy. It’s a lot of “poor surf conditions” on the charts. Honestly, for the next week and a half, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one, given the persistent wind and small, weak swell.
The only real glimmer of something surfable – and I mean *barely* – shows up on Saturday, July 25th. The morning is looking like the best of a bad bunch. We’ll have a tiny 2ft swell coming from the ESE, with a weak period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is a bit higher at 60 (still weak), but the real kicker is the glassy conditions. The wind is calm, so the surface will be smooth. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. You’ll be fighting for scraps. The waves will be small and weak, so it’s a beginner-friendly size, but the inconsistency will be a problem. Crowds are a possibility here, and with such little quality on offer, expect a few people out for the same tiny lumps.
For the rest of the period, it’s a total bust. There’s a gap of over a week from July 26th right through to August 1st where the recommendations are all zero. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report there.
So, in the end, there’s no standout. The 25th of July morning is the only session worth even looking at, and even then, it’s a low-expectation, small-wave glass-off. It tends not to stay this poor for long around here, so keep an eye on the charts, but for now, I’d be fixing the dings on the longboard and waiting for the next real swell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Thu night, min 22°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the S by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, strong winds from the SSE by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 15 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 3 | SSE 7 | SSE 3 | SE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 38 | 81 | 59 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 9:56PM1.70m | 10:38AM1.52m | 10:49PM1.61m | 11:32AM1.51m | 11:41PM1.50m | 12:22PM1.50m | 00:32AM1.40m | 1:11PM1.47m | 1:20AM1.30m | 1:57PM1.44m | 2:08AM1.21m | 2:44PM1.42m | 2:59AM1.15m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:20AM-0.16m | 4:29PM0.03m | 5:04AM-0.09m | 5:18PM0.12m | 5:48AM-0.00m | 6:11PM0.22m | 6:34AM0.10m | 7:08PM0.30m | 7:24AM0.20m | 8:10PM0.35m | 8:17AM0.28m | 9:12PM0.36m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — |
 | 8:23 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 22 |
Feels °C | 28 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 26 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | S 5 | — | — | SE 8 | — | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 12 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 9 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 22 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 38 | 81 | 59 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 13 | — | — | SE 12 | — | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | SE 11 | SE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 7 | — | — | 6 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | 5 | 11 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | — | — | SSE 3 | S 3 | SSE 4 | S 6 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | ENE 3 | SSE 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | — | WSW 3 | W 3 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 36 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 26 | — | 3 | 7 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 848 | 857 | 848 | 857 | 857 | 1360 | 149 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 213 | 213 | 1214 | 1214 | 1214 | 5 | 30 | 28 |
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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