Surf Forecasts:
The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SSW swell with 140 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cove Cape May this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove Cape May in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real about the outlook for The Cove Cape May. We’ve got a 16-day window ahead, but honestly, the surf is a total ghost town. The first recommendation to pop up is for Friday, September 4th, but only because it’s the first record, not because it’s any good. From there, it’s a long, bleak stretch of tiny, weak surf all the way through to Saturday, September 19th. There’s just no real energy coming in.
The water temp is sitting at 77°F, which is a whopping 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a proper anomaly, and it’s pretty unusual to have it that warm still.
The only spot we’ve got is The Cove Cape May itself, a point break that’s fairly consistent. The optimum swell direction is SE, but we’re just not seeing it. The whole period is plagued by combined swell energies that are pathetic, mostly in the single digits or low teens (13, 25, 10, 12, etc.), with a couple of days barely scraping into double digits. It’s all weak, short-period windswell, unless you count the 4-second stuff on the 9th of September, which is just junky.
For the first few mornings, on the 4th and 5th, we get some offshore and even glassy conditions on the 5th afternoon, but the swell is 0.7ft to 1ft. It’s flat, pure and simple. Even the best-looking offshore morning on Monday, September 7th, with a 2ft E swell, the energy is only 38, and it’s still a “poor surf conditions” call. There’s a little bump on Wednesday, September 9th, with a 4ft SSW swell, but the period is 5 seconds, so it’s a messy, wind-affected closeout. The wind is onshore and strong, 16 mph, making it thoroughly unappealing.
The 14th of September sees a 4ft SW swell, but again, a 4-second period and a sideshore chop. It’s not worth paddling out for. The rest of the window is just more of the same: tiny waves, weak energy, and often cross-off or onshore breezes. There’s a slight uptick on the 18th with a 12-second period, but the swell is only 0.7ft and the energy is a measly 27. It’s a tease.
There is no standout. There is no best day. Honestly, with this kind of weak, blown-out, and tiny swell at a beach/point setup, if you’re desperate for a session on the water, this looks more interesting for a kite surfer than someone with a paddle. But for a surf, you’re better off waiting for the next system.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 34 | 31 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 24 | 26 | 68 | 140 | 30 | 13 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:13PM1.62m | 2:49AM1.18m | 3:27PM1.62m | 4:08AM1.20m | 4:40PM1.67m | 5:19AM1.28m | 5:45PM1.73m | 6:20AM1.39m | 6:41PM1.78m | 7:13AM1.50m | 7:32PM1.81m | 8:01AM1.60m | 8:18PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:47PM0.26m | 8:35AM0.20m | 9:59PM0.23m | 9:48AM0.19m | 11:06PM0.17m | 10:57AM0.13m | 00:03AM0.09m | 12:00PM0.06m | 00:55AM0.01m | 12:57PM-0.00m | 1:41AM-0.05m | 1:49PM-0.04m | 2:25AM-0.07m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 25 | 28 | 31 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 11 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 34 | 31 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 13 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | S 5 | E 6 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 5 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 8 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | S 5 | — | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | ESE 3 | E 3 | E 5 | — | — | S 2 | SW 3 | W 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 6 | W 4 | WNW 4 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 16 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 68 | 140 | 15 | 16 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 330 | 296 | 552 | 552 | 547 | 372 | 207 | 354 | 66 | 105 | 354 | 60 | 81 | 727 | 243 | 247 | 243 | 1159 | 70 | 1504 | 236 |
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.
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