Surf Forecasts:
Sandy Hook/The Cove surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s period, SSE swell with 22 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandy Hook/The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about Sandy Hook / The Cove for the next couple weeks. It’s gonna be a long wait, but there’s a flicker of hope right at the end.
First up, if you’re looking to surf anytime now through the 22nd of August, you’re out of luck. We’ve got a massive dry spell. The waves are flat – we’re talking ankle-slop at best, with heights barely hitting 1ft and combined energy readings stuck in the low teens and single digits (like 19 down to 3). The swell is coming from the SSE and SE with short periods (5 to 8 seconds), meaning no push, no shape. It’s poor surf conditions across the board, day after day.
The bright spot? The water. For Sandy Hook/The Cove on the first day of the forecast, it’s sitting at 77°, which is about 4° above normal. That’s much warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a bath.
We do get some glassy mornings around the 10th and 11th, and clean offshore winds on the 9th, the 15th, and the 23rd. But with wave heights at 0.7ft to 1ft, it’s just not doing anything. The ocean is asleep.
Then, on Sunday the 23rd of August, in the afternoon, things finally change. We get a 2ft swell from the SE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy bumps up to 77. That’s still weak, but it’s the most energy we’ve seen the whole run. The wind is light from the WNW, which is a clean cross-offshore breeze. The wave comment finally says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout day for the history books, but it is easily the best of this whole dry block. If you’re desperate, that’s your window.
The one and only standout: The afternoon of Sunday, the 23rd of August at Sandy Hook/The Cove. That’s it. 2ft SE swell, clean wind, and the only day not labelled “poor surf conditions.” Don’t expect much, but you might get a few knee-high rollers to yourself. Crowds are possible here, especially if anyone else sees the wind coming good.
Bottom line: nearly three weeks of flatness, then a tiny pulse. It’s a tough stretch, but forecasts can change. We’ll see.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue night, min 21°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | ENE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 11 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:00PM1.59m | 4:40AM1.26m | 5:10PM1.64m | 5:48AM1.34m | 6:12PM1.70m | 6:47AM1.44m | 7:07PM1.75m | 7:40AM1.53m | 7:57PM1.76m | 8:30AM1.58m | 8:44PM1.73m | 9:18AM1.60m | 9:31PM1.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:36AM0.17m | 10:49PM0.16m | 10:42AM0.12m | 11:47PM0.07m | 11:43AM0.05m | 00:41AM-0.02m | 12:41PM0.00m | 1:33AM-0.09m | 1:38PM-0.03m | 2:22AM-0.14m | 2:30PM-0.04m | 3:08AM-0.15m | 3:19PM-0.02m | 3:50AM-0.12m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 22 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 33 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 19 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | E 3 | SSE 5 | E 4 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 8 | — | — | SE 6 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | — | SSE 5 | E 4 | SSE 6 | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | — |
| kJ | 11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | — | E 10 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | S 13 | E 9 | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | — | SSE 3 | S 5 | WNW 2 | WNW 3 | NW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 1 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 115 | 990 | 11 | 57 | 168 | 2649 | 732 | 732 | 30 | 57 | 551 | 2526 | 18 | 40 | 235 | 23 |
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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