The Cove Cape May Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.93° N 74.94° W

The Cove Cape May Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove Cape May sea temperature is
24.4°C
3.0° 

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 14 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, E swell with 233 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 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2PM (Mon 21st Sep)5ft (1.6m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happenin’ at The Cove Cape May over the next couple weeks. I’ll be straight with ya—this is a tough stretch. There’s a big ol’ gap of no real surf at the start, so don’t even think about paddlin’ out until we get deeper into the second week. Water temp is 76°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—about 5° above average—so at least it’ll feel nice when you’re sitting out there waiting.

For the first several days, we’re lookin’ at tiny dribble. Swell heights are between 1 ft and 2 ft, with weak wave energy, barely cracking 25 or 40 in the combined energy numbers. Winds are all over—cross-off, cross, cross-on—but none of it matters ’cause there’s just no power. The period’s short too, mostly 6 to 9 seconds, so you’re not gonna find any shape worth chasin’. The forecast calls it poor surf conditions, and I gotta agree. There’s a long gap here with no recommendations at all, from now all the way into the third week of September.

Now, we start to see a little pulse around Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd. Swell bumps up to 5 ft to 6 ft from the east, with combined energy climbin’ into the 200s and 300s—moderate energy at best. Period stays short at 6 to 8 seconds though, so it’s gonna be messy, bouncy, and not much fun. Winds are cross-off from the east and northeast, which keeps the surface clean, but the quality just isn’t there. Still, if you’re desperate, there’s somethin’ to push you around. For intermediates, 6 ft is gettin’ a bit hefty, but not out of reach. Beginners might find it a handful.

Things settle again by Wednesday the 23rd, with the swell hangin’ around 5 ft to 6 ft but turnin’ cross-onshore and choppy. Not worth it. The real standout window, if you can call it that, shows up on Thursday the 24th. The swell drops to 3 ft from the ESE, period stretches to 9 seconds, and we get glassy conditions in the morning with a risk of thunderstorms. Combined energy is 139—still weak—but for the first time the forecast says “surfable waves.” It’s ordinary, but if you’re keen, that’s your best bet. The wind goes cross-off in the afternoon too, so the whole day is clean. For The Cove Cape May, a point break, that longer-period 9-second ESE swell might actually wrap in a little better than the short stuff.

After that, Friday the 25th morning sees a spike to 4 ft from the ENE with a cross breeze and 301 combined energy, but it’s light cross-shore and only rated marginal. The rest of the week fades back into small, weak, or choppy conditions. A few more “surfable” moments pop up late on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, with 2 ft to 4 ft, glassy or clean cross-off winds, and periods around 8 to 9 seconds. Energy stays in the low 100s to 170s. Not standouts by any stretch, but if you’ve got the itch, Sunday the 27th afternoon with 4 ft from the ESE and clean offshore NW wind at 9 mph is probably your next best call.

Crowds at The Cove are often an issue, so even on these mediocre days, expect company. It’s a fairly exposed point, so it picks up whatever’s out there, but the optimum swell direction is SE, and most of the energy we see is from the east or ESE—close enough but not perfect.

So, bottom line: there’s no proper stand-out session in this 16-day window. The best of a bad lot is Thursday the 24th morning—glassy, surfable, and the water’s warm. If you’re a true local who just needs to get wet, that’s your moment. Otherwise, the forecast can change, and this spot doesn’t stay flat forever.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Mon morning, calm by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
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
0.7
E
6
0.5
E
6
0.3
ESE
8
0.5
E
6
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
ESE
7
0.3
ESE
6
0.2
ESE
12
0.3
SE
12
0.3
SE
12
0.9
SSW
4
0.4
SE
11
0.5
S
5
0.3
SE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
21
13
12
12
41
15
11
17
34
33
30
17
15
8
14
21
21
34
30
14
18
Wind (km/h)
30
N
30
NNW
25
NE
20
E
15
E
10
SE
5
SE
15
SSE
10
S
5
SSW
25
SSE
20
SSW
5
W
0
SW
10
ESE
10
SE
20
SE
25
SSW
15
WSW
5
WNW
25
E
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
10:51AM1.66m
11:05PM1.43m
11:32AM1.60m
11:48PM1.30m
12:16PM1.53m
00:34AM1.19m
1:05PM1.46m
1:27AM1.10m
2:01PM1.41m
2:32AM1.05m
3:05PM1.39m
3:41AM1.04m
4:07PM1.41m
4:43AM1.09m
Low Tide
4:57PM0.12m
5:02AM0.16m
5:44PM0.21m
5:41AM0.25m
6:34PM0.30m
6:23AM0.34m
7:30PM0.37m
7:13AM0.41m
8:31PM0.41m
8:12AM0.45m
9:34PM0.42m
9:17AM0.44m
10:32PM0.39m
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:02
7:01
7:00
 mm
1
9
Temp °C
22
24
22
21
20
19
19
20
21
20
22
22
23
25
25
24
24
24
27
32
21
Feels °C
20
19
16
18
17
17
20
20
20
20
19
19
24
26
25
25
24
24
28
34
18
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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