Surf Forecasts:
The Cove Cape May surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, SSE swell with 118 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 0.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove Cape May over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, taking a long look at the surf in our neck of the woods. We're talking about The Cove Cape May, a point break setup. Honestly, looking at this 16-day window, it’s a painful stretch. We’re staring down a lean run with next to nothing on offer for the vast majority of the time.
The first week and a half is a total write-off. From Thursday the 13th right through to Saturday the 22nd, it’s just flat to weak mush with poor surf conditions. You’ve got tiny swell, mostly around 0.3ft to 1ft, and when a little bit of energy tries to show, the wind is messy. That big blow on Sunday the 16th kicks up some chop but it’s raw and junky with a short period around 5 seconds. Combine that with cross-onshore winds and the combined energy is weak, barely hitting 88. It’s just not worth paddling out.
The one tiny glimmer in this whole dry spell hits on Saturday morning, August 22nd. We get a brief moment of glassy conditions courtesy of a light northwesterly breeze. The swell is still tiny at 3ft from the south with a poor 5-second period, but that glassy surface makes it *surfable*. The combined energy is just 77, so it’s weak, but if you’re desperate to get wet that morning, you can find something to ride. It's not good, but it’s the only moment of clarity we’ve got for over a week.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums and a long gap of nothing until late in the window. The standout, if you can call it that, is the last couple of days. On Thursday, August 27th, we see a pulse of east swell push in, building to 4ft on the morning and 5ft by the afternoon. That’s the biggest swell of the entire forecast, with the combined wave energy climbing into the moderate range at 153 to 241. That’s still bumpy and cross-onshore, so the quality is poor.
Then, on Friday, August 28th, the wind finally plays ball with a clean, cross-offshore breeze out of the northwest. The swell holds at a solid 5ft from the east with a combined energy of 173. The wind is a fresh 30 km/h so it’s not glassy, but the clean conditions will make it the most ridable day of the period by a mile. It's over a week away though, so don't lock it in just yet — keep an eye on it. For the rest of it, save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Thu night, min 20°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NNE by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 3 | W 3 | E 11 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | S 5 | SSE 6 | E 5 | ENE 5 | S 3 | S 5 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 9 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 86 | 104 | 40 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 27 | 50 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 8:38PM1.90m | 9:08AM1.55m | 9:25PM1.86m | 9:56AM1.60m | 10:11PM1.77m | 10:42AM1.61m | 10:55PM1.66m | 11:28AM1.58m | 11:39PM1.52m | 12:14PM1.55m | 00:24AM1.37m | 1:02PM1.49m | 1:13AM1.24m | ||||||
Low Tide | 2:51AM-0.12m | 2:53PM-0.09m | 3:37AM-0.12m | 3:44PM-0.06m | 4:21AM-0.08m | 4:34PM0.00m | 5:03AM-0.02m | 5:24PM0.09m | 5:45AM0.07m | 6:16PM0.18m | 6:28AM0.17m | 7:10PM0.27m | |||||||
— | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
7:58 | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 3 | SE 8 | S 3 | SE 7 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 6 | E 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | E 5 | — | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | 40 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 27 | 50 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 9 | — | S 5 | SE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | — | — | — | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | E 11 | S 5 | — | E 13 | — | E 12 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | SE 14 | NE 4 | — |
— | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | W 3 | — | — | NNE 2 | — | NW 3 | ENE 5 | — | SSE 3 | S 3 | S 5 | S 7 | WNW 3 | — | SW 2 | NE 2 | ENE 4 | — |
3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 14 | — | 3 | 11 | 86 | 104 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1016 | 1142 | 280 | 2174 | 1383 | 3145 | 1144 | 1377 | 3145 | 1331 | 372 | 1393 | 21 | 7 | 105 | 81 | 70 | 21 | 21 |
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.











