The Cove Cape May Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.93° N 74.94° W

Issued: 1 pm 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove Cape May sea temperature is
22.9° C

1.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year

The Cove Cape May surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, E swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, S swell with 93 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period with E 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cove Cape May in the next 16 days are 1.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Wed 8th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 6s
Best Surf11AM (Wed 8th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 6s
Most Powerful 8PM (Fri 10th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Hey, Rusty here. Let’s be straight—this 16-day window for The Cove Cape May is a tough one. Water temp’s sitting at a balmy 73°F, about 3°F warmer than usual for early July, so at least you won’t freeze waiting for something that never shows. But the surf? Barely a whisper. The first few days—Friday July 3 through Tuesday July 7—are all tiny junk, mostly below 1 ft, with onshore or cross‑shore winds and messy conditions. Combined energy is pathetic, hitting single digits to low 30s (weak). Not worth suiting up.

Wednesday July 8 offers the first glimmer: morning brings a clean 2 ft from the east with a gentle offshore breeze (NE, 9 mph). Period is short at 6 seconds, so it’ll be lumpy and weak—energy only 57 (still weak). Afternoon stays clean but drops to 2 ft. That’s your best shot all week, but it’s honestly more of a longboard or foiling session than anything with push.

Then back to the doldrums. Thursday July 9 through Sunday July 12: mostly 0.7–2 ft, winds shift onshore or cross‑shore, water gets choppy or glassy but no swell. Monday July 13 afternoon sees a jump to 3 ft from the east, but it’s cross‑onshore and period a dismal 6 seconds—energy climbs to 173 (moderate), but the quality is poor. Tuesday July 14 adds some height (3–4 ft) but with onshore wind and a 5–7 second period; not recommended.

Thursday July 16 morning stands as the other semi‑decent slot: 4 ft from the south, period 8 seconds, and a clean cross‑offshore breeze (NNW, 6 mph). Combined energy is 186 (moderate). Still, it’s small and ordinary—surfable but nothing to drive for. The afternoon goes cross‑onshore and choppy.

From Friday July 17 onward, it’s back to weak, onshore‑dominated slop. No standout session in the whole 16 days. The Cove is fairly consistent as a point break, but this stretch is just a flat spell. If you’re desperate, the mornings of July 8 or July 16 are your only windows, and even then keep your expectations real low. Forecasts can change, but right now I’d leave the board in the car.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 34°C on Fri night, min 22°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sat night, calm by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.3
SE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
E
5
0.4
SSE
5
0.3
SE
10
0.3
SE
9
0.7
E
6
0.4
SE
9
0.5
E
7
0.4
E
7
0.5
S
7
0.3
E
6
0.5
S
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
23
13
13
13
19
11
7
18
21
22
9
9
15
13
36
30
23
15
22
7
29
Wind (km/h)
20
S
10
NW
5
W
25
SSE
15
SSW
5
N
20
SE
20
ENE
20
SSE
15
SE
15
W
15
E
10
ENE
20
NNE
15
NE
15
E
15
SSE
15
SSE
20
SSE
5
SE
5
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
High Tide
11:09PM1.55m
11:40AM1.22m
11:47PM1.50m
12:21PM1.26m
00:28AM1.43m
1:07PM1.32m
1:15AM1.36m
1:59PM1.39m
2:10AM1.29m
2:58PM1.48m
3:13AM1.24m
3:59PM1.57m
4:21AM1.21m
Low Tide
4:36PM0.20m
5:26AM0.10m
5:19PM0.23m
6:03AM0.10m
6:08PM0.25m
6:42AM0.10m
7:03PM0.27m
7:26AM0.09m
8:06PM0.27m
8:16AM0.08m
9:13PM0.24m
9:12AM0.07m
10:22PM0.19m
10:12AM0.04m
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
mod rain
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:39
5:39
5:39
5:41
5:41
5:41
5:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:28
8:28
8:28
8:28
8:28
8:27
8:27
8:27
 mm
1
6
2
5
7
6
2
2
1
Temp °C
33
34
29
32
24
25
26
24
25
25
25
21
23
21
20
21
20
21
22
22
23
Feels °C
35
35
32
33
18
28
28
24
27
26
28
23
25
20
19
20
19
20
21
24
26
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SSE
4
0.3
S
5
0.3
SE
9
0.3
S
4
0.3
SE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.4
SE
9
0.4
ENE
4
0.4
E
5
0.4
SSE
5
0.4
SSE
6
0.3
SSE
6
0.3
SSE
6
0.4
SSE
6
0.5
E
7
0.4
E
7
0.3
E
7
0.4
SSE
3
0.5
S
8
Energy kJ
23
6
4
13
3
11
7
7
21
6
8
8
12
7
7
14
23
15
9
4
29
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.2
S
5
0.2
S
5
0.4
SE
8
0.2
ENE
4
0.4
SE
9
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.3
SE
10
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SSE
6
0.3
SSE
6
0.3
SE
9
0.3
E
6
0.3
E
8
Energy kJ
13
13
12
2
2
18
2
22
9
9
15
13
13
13
8
7
13
7
10
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
9
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
10
0.1
S
8
0.4
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.1
E
10
0.2
SSE
6
0.3
SE
10
Energy kJ
19
2
2
2
1
22
14
13
2
4
14
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
3
0.5
S
3
0.4
W
3
0.4
SSE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.6
SSE
4
0.4
SSE
4
0.5
ENE
5
1
ENE
4
0.8
ENE
6
0.7
E
6
0.6
E
6
0.5
S
7
0.2
WSW
2
0.3
WNW
3
Energy kJ
4
4
4
5
16
11
5
17
39
42
36
30
22
1
2
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
1377
60
296
138
157
1383
3070
1165
1178
188
60
70
211
211
0
0
46
321
334
105
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Jersey
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
6
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
4
5
9
8
9
6
5
5
8
5
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for The Cove Cape May:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our The Cove Cape May surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest