
Surf Forecasts:
The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, S swell with 102 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cove Cape May this week:
The surf forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove Cape May in the next 16 days are 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what's cookin' for The Cove Cape May.
Honestly, the next 12 days are lookin' real flat. We're stuck in a pattern of tiny, weak swell – we're talking wave heights of 1ft to 3ft for most of that time. The wind is all over the place, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keepin' everything messy and choppy. The combined energy is barely registerin', with values between 9 and 53 (weak). It's a long, dry spell. There's a stretch from August 5th right through to August 16th where the conditions are just "poor surf conditions" day after day. You're better off doin' somethin' else for a while.
Things finally start to show a pulse of life on Monday, the 17th of August. We get a bit of a bump in the morning with swell from the SSE at 3ft and a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 93 (weak), which is the best we've seen. The real winner here is the wind: it's glassy. That's a major positive after all that chop. It'll be tiny, but clean. There's a risk of storms later, so get in early.
After that, the winds stay clean through the 18th and 19th, with a cross-offshore flow from the NW, but the swell really drops off again, back to 1ft to 2ft. The energy is gone (40-42). It's not worth the paddle.
The best bet on the entire forecast is Thursday, the 20th of August. The morning looks clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the East, but the swell is a tiny 1ft. The standout is the afternoon: glassy conditions again. The swell is a bit more organised at 1ft from the SE with a slightly longer period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is still tiny at 26 (weak), but if you're on a longboard and you need a glassy fix, that's your window.
The water temp is about 75°F, which is just slightly warmer than normal for this time of year, nothin' to write home about.
So, the one true standout is the glassy morning on August 17th. It's not gonna be big, but it'll be the cleanest wave we'll see. The second option is the glassy afternoon on August 20th. Everything else is a write-off.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 34°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 4 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 45 | 50 | 22 | 49 | 72 | 24 | 17 | 39 | 23 | 26 | 56 | 32 | 30 | 102 | 51 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 10 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:28PM1.52m | 1:45AM1.26m | 2:30PM1.56m | 2:53AM1.19m | 3:38PM1.61m | 4:09AM1.18m | 4:48PM1.68m | 5:22AM1.22m | 5:54PM1.76m | 6:27AM1.30m | 6:53PM1.84m | 7:25AM1.39m | 7:47PM1.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:46PM0.26m | 7:45AM0.12m | 8:57PM0.26m | 8:47AM0.12m | 10:08PM0.22m | 9:55AM0.11m | 11:16PM0.15m | 11:02AM0.07m | 00:17AM0.07m | 12:06PM0.01m | 1:13AM-0.02m | 1:05PM-0.05m | 2:04AM-0.08m | ||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 34 | 33 | 25 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 26 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | — | — | SE 6 | E 9 | — | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | E 10 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | SSE 6 |
25 | — | — | 10 | 2 | — | 24 | 2 | 39 | 19 | 21 | 56 | 32 | 30 | 39 | 2 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 3 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | SE 7 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | E 8 | SE 9 |
7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 13 | — | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | E 9 | E 11 | E 8 | — | — | — | E 8 | E 12 | — |
1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 5 | S 6 | W 3 | S 4 | W 3 | — | S 6 | WSW 3 | — | — | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 4 | W 3 | — | S 6 | WSW 3 |
— | 45 | 50 | 22 | 49 | 72 | 1 | 17 | 1 | — | 26 | 2 | — | — | 102 | 51 | 7 | 2 | — | 19 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 247 | 1170 | 27 | 160 | 1019 | 160 | 38 | 152 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 21 | 46 | 7 | 36 | 60 | 60 | 21 | 296 |
Best forecast wave conditions in New Jersey | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Cove Cape May Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Cove Cape May provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Cove Cape May can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Cove Cape May 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 (The Cove Cape May) 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 The Cove Cape May 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.
The Cove Cape May is 50 km (31 miles) from Ocean City. If you plan a vacation in New Jersey, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ocean City. Ocean City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











