Surf Forecasts:
The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with 47 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with ESE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. 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 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the Jersey shore. Let's be real, it's a tough stretch ahead for The Cove Cape May. We're looking at over a week of flat, weak conditions before maybe, just maybe, something starts to stir.
The water is sitting at 77°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, a nice little bonus if you're just going for a swim.
We start off with basically nothing. Sunday the 23rd, we've got a tiny 0.7ft ESE swell with a weak 14 energy, and a cross-on wind. It's a no-go. Monday the 24th through the middle of the following week is all the same story: small 1ft SE swells with periods between 8 and 12 seconds, but the energy is tiny, in the teens and twenties. Even the glassy mornings on the 24th and 26th can't save it because there's just no water moving. It's a total washout.
The first week of September sees a little more juice, but it's still pretty grim. The energy finally starts to climb into triple digits from the 3rd of September onward, with a 3ft SE swell on the afternoon of the 3rd and a 4ft ESE swell on the morning of the 4th, but the winds are messy and the wave comments are still saying "poor surf conditions." By the 5th of September, we get our first glimpse of something surfable. The Saturday morning glassy conditions with a 3ft E swell and 190 energy is our best call. It's still only a 1 out of 10 on the fun scale, but it's the only window where the stars might align for a small, clean wave. The afternoon on the 5th gets a bit bigger at 5ft, but the cross-on wind and rain will make a mess of it.
The spot itself (The Cove Cape May) is a point break that is fairly consistent for the area. It's exposed to the SE, which is where most of our swell is coming from. Just remember, crowds are often here, so even on a so-so day, you won't be alone.
Honestly, for the next 10 days, you're better off checking the reports for something else or tuning the kite. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for the majority of this period. The long-range stuff on the 6th and 7th of September fizzles out entirely, with no swell forecast.
Hang in there. The wait is the worst part.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Fri night, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 14 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 14 | 20 | 26 | 21 | 29 | 32 | 47 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:41PM1.49m | 6:08AM1.12m | 6:28PM1.56m | 6:53AM1.19m | 7:11PM1.62m | 7:34AM1.28m | 7:50PM1.66m | 8:12AM1.36m | 8:27PM1.68m | 8:49AM1.44m | 9:03PM1.68m | 9:24AM1.51m | 9:38PM1.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:01AM0.31m | 11:43AM0.30m | 00:44AM0.25m | 12:30PM0.24m | 1:22AM0.19m | 1:13PM0.19m | 1:57AM0.13m | 1:54PM0.14m | 2:31AM0.08m | 2:34PM0.10m | 3:04AM0.04m | 3:15PM0.09m | 3:38AM0.02m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 12 | S 3 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 4 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 12 | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 2 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 26 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 47 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | E 7 | SE 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | E 14 | E 14 | E 12 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 14 | 22 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 12 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | NE 6 | E 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | — | ESE 5 | — | E 9 | S 7 |
| kJ | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 3 | — | SSE 6 | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | S 6 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 4 | — | — | S 5 | — | — | — | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 3 | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 14 | 21 | 29 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1177 | 37 | 105 | 152 | 105 | 81 | 138 | 296 | 296 | 1170 | 151 | 321 | 247 | 15 | 15 | 46 | 21 | 36 | 37 | 105 |
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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