The Cove Cape May Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the table for The Cove Cape May over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. This little point break is a fairly consistent spot, but the ocean just isn't cooperating for most of this forecast.

Right now, the water’s sitting at a balmy 77°, which is a hefty 5° warmer than average for this time of year. That’s very unusual, almost tropical conditions for Cape May.

First up, starting Saturday the 12th, it’s a dud. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the southeast with a period of only 4 seconds – that’s just wind slop. The wind is a messy cross-shore at 12 mph, and the combined energy is a weak 14. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. You’re better off doing something else.

The only real glimmer of hope, and I mean the only one worth mentioning in this whole 16-day window, comes on Sunday the 13th in the afternoon. The swell drops to a knee-high 2ft from the southeast, but it has a much longer period of 10 seconds, giving it a little more push than you’d expect. The real draw? The wind goes glassy. NNW at 3 mph. Dead calm. Combined wave energy nudges up to 73. It’s going to be weak and small, but if you’ve got a longboard and a lot of patience, you might find a clean, smooth wave. Crowds are possible here often, and on a rare glassy day in a poor run, you might have company looking for the same.

After that Sunday afternoon tease, it’s back to the bad news. From Monday the 14th all the way through to Sunday the 20th, it’s a long, bleak run. The swell is tiny, often under 2ft, with short periods and weak energy numbers barely breaking 60. There’s nothing to get excited about. The wind is often clean, but with no swell, it doesn't matter.

Then, on Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd, the swell finally shows up. We’re looking at 4ft and 5ft from the east-southeast, but the period is only 6 seconds. That’s short-period, wind-affected junk. Plus, the wind is howling out of the northeast at 28-34 mph. The combined energy jumps to 120-127, but it’s going to be a messy, blown-out storm surge. Not a paddle session – this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Mid-week, Wednesday the 23rd morning brings the biggest, cleanest looking wave of the forecast: 5ft from the southeast at 7 seconds with light northerly winds. Combined energy hits 209. It’s surfable, but still a very ordinary, lumpy wave. It’s the best of a bad bunch, and it’s a week and a half away, so that’s a long-range call with low confidence.

The last few days from the 24th to the 27th fade back to small, weak, and poor. The 27th might offer another tiny glassy moment with 3ft from the east and glassy conditions in the morning, but the energy is only 109 and the period is a mediocre 7 seconds.

Bottom line: The true standout is Sunday afternoon the 13th for a glassy, tiny longboard session. The only other potential, but less certain, is Wednesday the 23rd morning for a bit more size. Everything else is a skip.

Rusty.

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