The Cove Cape May Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks are looking grim for a proper wave. We’ve got a long, flat stretch ahead before anything even vaguely rideable shows up. We’re looking at The Cove Cape May, and honestly, it’s a tough watch.

Right now, into the start of the period, we’ve got next to nothing. Tiny little windswell, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, with heights barely tickling 3 ft and periods that are just junk. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is about 3° warmer than normal for this time of year – a touch warmer than usual, so at least you won’t need a thick suit. But the surf? Forget it. There’s basically no energy in the water.

We then roll through a whole heap of days – from the 17th right through to the 29th of August – with absolutely nothing to recommend. It’s all sub-3 ft, poor conditions, and combined swell energy barely breaking double digits. You’ve got a few glassy mornings on the 19th and 20th, but with swell heights of 0.7 ft to 1 ft and weak energy (14 and 13), it’s not even worth paddling out. The models are showing a long stretch of “poor surf conditions” for every single session.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope right at the tail end. On the morning of Sunday the 30th of August, the wind goes clean offshore from the NNE at 9 mph. The swell bumps up a touch to 2 ft from the SE, with a 10-second period. The combined swell energy hits 79 – still weak, but at least there’s something there. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’d agree. It’s a long, flat run to get to that point, and it’s not going to be anything to write home about. Board selection won't matter much, because you’re on a longboard or a foamie. The crowds at The Cove are “often” around, but on a day like this, most people won’t bother.

After that, the 31st of August sees a bit more energy (100 combined), but it’s back to cross-offshore winds and a short-period 8-second swell. It’s still messy.

So, the honest call? There are no true standouts. The only thing even close is that Sunday the 30th morning window. If you’re desperate and local, you might get a few gutless crumbles. For everyone else, save your energy. This is one of those blank runs that’s more normal for the area – the forecasts can always change, but right now, it’s a bust.

Rusty.

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