Surf Forecasts:
The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, S swell with 88 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what The Cove Cape May has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it’s gonna be a long, dry spell before we see anything worth paddling out for.
Right now, and for the next week and a half, we’ve got next to nothing. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7 ft to 2 ft, with short periods between 5 and 8 seconds. That’s just wind chop, not real surf. The combined energy is weak, sitting below 100 for most of that time – we’re talking numbers like 36, 29, 22 – just flat and dribbly. Winds are mostly light and cross or cross-on, which doesn’t help. It’s a real bummer. There’s a solid gap of no recommendations from now right through to about the 19th of August. That’s over a week of flatness.
Then, around Tuesday the 20th of August, we finally get a flicker of hope. The morning sees a 2 ft SE swell with an 11-second period, and combined energy jumps to 115 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-off from the NNW, so it should be clean. The water temp is about 76°, which is 2° warmer than average for this time of year – that’s a bit notable, but nothing crazy. The Cove is a point break, and that SE swell is from the optimum direction, so it should wrap in nicely. The waves will be small, but clean and rideable for intermediates. Expect crowds though – it’s a popular spot and they’re listed as "often" busy. The afternoon looks even better, with the same 2 ft swell picking up to a 12-second period and combined energy of 153 (still moderate). Winds stay light and clean. This is the standout window of the whole outlook – Thursday the 20th of August. It’s nothing huge, but after so much flatness, it’ll feel like a gift.
After that, things get messy again. The 21st brings a bigger 3 ft SE swell with a 12-second period and combined energy of 273, but the wind swings onshore from the S and SSW, so it’ll be choppy and blown out. Not worth it. The 22nd and 23rd have some clean conditions with cross-off winds, but the swell drops back to 2 ft and the period shortens to 8-9 seconds. Combined energy sits around 100-170, but the waves will be weak and average.
So, bottom line: if you’re itching for a surf, hold out for Thursday the 20th of August. It’s not going to be epic, but it’ll be the cleanest, most surfable we’ve got in this whole 16-day stretch. The rest is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Tue night, min 17°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSW 3 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | E 13 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 88 | 20 | 16 | 22 | 8 | 22 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 10 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:48PM1.68m | 5:22AM1.22m | 5:54PM1.76m | 6:27AM1.30m | 6:53PM1.84m | 7:25AM1.39m | 7:47PM1.89m | 8:18AM1.48m | 8:38PM1.90m | 9:08AM1.55m | 9:25PM1.86m | 9:56AM1.60m | 10:11PM1.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:16PM0.15m | 11:02AM0.07m | 00:17AM0.07m | 12:06PM0.01m | 1:13AM-0.02m | 1:05PM-0.05m | 2:04AM-0.08m | 2:00PM-0.09m | 2:51AM-0.12m | 2:53PM-0.09m | 3:37AM-0.12m | 3:44PM-0.06m | 4:21AM-0.08m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | |  | |  | | |  |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 10 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 31 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 24 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 17 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | E 9 | S 6 | ESE 7 | S 4 | SSE 5 | E 10 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | — | W 3 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 23 | 1 | 20 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | ESE 8 | E 8 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SSE 6 | E 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | — | — | E 10 | — | E 8 | — | — | — | SE 8 | E 11 | — | SE 11 | SE 10 | — | E 13 | E 13 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 6 | W 3 | S 6 | SSW 5 | — | SSE 6 | NW 3 | W 3 | — | SSW 3 | W 3 | SSE 8 | S 4 | WNW 3 | W 3 | — | NNE 2 | NNE 2 | E 4 |
| kJ | 12 | 88 | 1 | 16 | 22 | — | 22 | 3 | 2 | — | 6 | 1 | 24 | 17 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 157 | 11 | 38 | 21 | 98 | 81 | 36 | 81 | 330 | 2670 | 105 | 218 | 552 | 70 | 547 | 98 | 296 | 280 | 164 | 251 |
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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