The Cove Cape May Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: Cape May is not doing us any favours in this forecast window. The wave energy is just too weak to get excited about, and the wind is all over the shop. We’ve got a solid 16-day stretch ahead, but it’s a long, flat grind with nothing that really stands out for a proper surf.

The first day with any swell to speak of is Friday, the 21st of August. Over at The Cove Cape May, we’re looking at a tiny 0.2m (0.7ft) swell pushing in from the ESE. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s all wind-slop, not a groundswell. The water temp is a warm 25° (77°F), which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but with the combined swell energy sitting at a weak 14, you’ll be doing more floating than riding. The morning has a cross-off wind from the N at 15 km/h (9 mph), so it’s clean, but there’s just no power. By the afternoon, the wind swings S and goes onshore, killing any chance of a wave.

Saturday the 22nd kicks off with a bit more push, the swell bumps to 0.5m (2ft), but the period drops to 7 seconds. The wind is a messy E at 20 km/h (12 mph), cross-off in the morning but cross-shore by the afternoon, creating a chop. The energy is still weak at 36. It’s a write-off.

Sunday the 23rd is a joke—swell drops back to 0.4m (1ft) from the SSE, with a period of only 5 seconds. The wind is howling W at 20 km/h (12 mph), making it cross-shore and choppy. The energy is a pathetic 14.

Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 25th of August see the swell staying tiny, between 0.2m (0.7ft) and 0.3m (1ft). The period on Monday is a long 12 seconds, but there’s no height to do anything with it. The morning winds are clean from the NW, but you’re still looking at energy levels in the teens. It’s a flat spell.

Wednesday the 26th has a moment of glassy conditions in the morning—wind from the SSE at just 5 km/h (3 mph)—but the swell is still only 0.3m (1ft). You could paddle out on a longboard, but don’t expect a ride.

The rest of the week remains poor. Swell stays below 0.5m (2ft), with energy levels struggling to hit 49. The winds are a mix of cross and onshore, with a lot of “unknown” wave states, which tells me it’s messy.

We roll into the end of August and start of September. Saturday the 29th has a clean cross-off wind from the NNW at 10 km/h (6 mph), with the swell at 0.5m (2ft) and an 8-second period. The energy is weak at 38. It’s clean, but the waves are tiny. Sunday the 30th is similar.

By Monday the 31st of August, the swell is still 0.5m (2ft) to 0.6m (2ft), but the period drops to a shocking 4-5 seconds. The wind is onshore from the SSE at 20-30 km/h (12-19 mph), making it choppy and lumpy. The energy is still only 21. This is not surfable.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a total loss with onshore winds and tiny swell. Wednesday the 2nd has a brief moment of clean cross-off wind from the NW at 10 km/h (6 mph) in the afternoon, with a 0.3m (1ft) swell and 10-second period. Energy is 25. Again, too small.

The final day with any hope is Saturday the 5th of September. The morning offers a clean cross-off wind from the NW at 5 km/h (3 mph), with the swell at 0.6m (2ft) but from the S, with a period of only 4 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 20. It’s clean, but it’s all wind-slop.

Honestly, the whole 16-day window is a flat and wind-affected mess. There’s nothing here for a surfer. The waves are too small, the periods are too short, and the wind is rarely your friend. Forget the surfboard for now. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, if you’ve got the gear. Keep an eye on the charts, though—it tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty

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