Surf Forecasts:
The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, S swell with 758 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period with SSE 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 22) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period. 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 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, lookin' at the Cape May scene for the next couple weeks. Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's gonna be a long, frustrating wait for any kind of real surf. We're staring down a massive dry spell.
The whole 16-day window is a tough one, starting from Saturday, July 18th. For a solid week and a half after that, it’s basically flat. We’re talking tiny, weak dribble with hopeless wind. The morning of Sunday the 19th offers a clean look but with a swell height of only 2ft and a combined energy of just 44, there’s nothing to ride. The first faint heartbeat we see comes late on Wednesday the 22nd. The water temp is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year at 76°.
On Wednesday afternoon (July 22nd), a pulse of southerly swell finally tries to show up. The energy jumps to a solid 1076, pushing waves up to 7ft with a 9-second period. But here’s the catch – while we have a light onshore breeze, the conditions are described as "unknown" quality. That’s a gamble. 7ft is pushing into expert-only territory, especially at a point break like The Cove. We’ll have to see if it cleans up. That afternoon is the absolute best on offer in these two weeks, but it’s a long shot.
After that Wednesday blip, it drops right back off. The rest of the week is full of clean mornings but swells under three feet – just nothing to get excited about. The morning of Friday, July 24th has a tiny 2ft wave with a gentle offshore wind, but it’s not worth paddling out for. The whole pattern stays the same right through the end of the month and into August, with a tiny bump on Friday, July 31st where we see 4ft but with a short, weak period of 6 seconds and moderate energy of 128. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary.
Honestly, if you need a surf in the next two weeks, you’re banking everything on the late afternoon of July 22nd and hoping the conditions come together. Otherwise, it’s a quiet, frustrating stretch for Cape May.
Stay patient.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat night, min 20°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat night, light winds from the NNE by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 3 | S 5 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | S 7 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 7 | 80 | 73 | 37 | 28 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 246 | 202 | 758 | 153 | 71 | 69 | 17 | 41 | 24 | 54 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 12:03PM1.48m | 00:12AM1.58m | 12:55PM1.46m | 1:02AM1.44m | 1:48PM1.44m | 1:54AM1.30m | 2:42PM1.42m | 2:50AM1.18m | 3:37PM1.42m | 3:49AM1.10m | 4:31PM1.43m | 4:49AM1.06m | 5:23PM1.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:50PM0.06m | 6:27AM-0.01m | 6:47PM0.15m | 7:14AM0.08m | 7:45PM0.23m | 8:02AM0.16m | 8:46PM0.29m | 8:52AM0.23m | 9:48PM0.32m | 9:42AM0.27m | 10:47PM0.32m | 10:34AM0.29m | 11:42PM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | — | 4 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 28 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 30 | 26 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | — | NE 4 | E 12 | E 4 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 73 | 37 | 28 | 20 | 17 | — | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | 202 | 318 | 153 | 71 | 69 | 17 | 41 | 15 | 54 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | E 13 | — | — | E 12 | NE 4 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | SE 13 | E 12 | SE 12 | SE 8 | E 10 | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 5 | — | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | SSE 7 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | S 7 | WSW 4 | S 9 | NW 2 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 |
| kJ | 6 | 80 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | 18 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 246 | 15 | 758 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1461 | 30 | 21 | 7 | 37 | 38 | 321 | 380 | 151 | 1125 | 1170 | 242 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 38 | 0 | 380 | 0 |
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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