Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 11s period, ESE swell with 23 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 0.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) 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 0.5m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – if you’re looking for surf at The Cove over the next couple of weeks, you’re gonna be mostly staring at flat, bumpy water. This is one of those periods where the ocean just isn’t cooperating, so don’t get your hopes up.
Right now, and for the next several days, it’s a tough watch. We’ve got a real dry spell on our hands. From start of the forecast through to late next week, the swell energy is just pathetic – we’re looking at figures like 11 and 28 – that’s weak, flabby stuff. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7ft to 2ft, coming in from the SE with a real short, choppy period of only 4 seconds. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, making a mess of even that dribble. There are a few moments of glassy conditions in the early mornings, like on Monday morning the 17th of August and again on Wednesday morning the 19th, but with next to no swell to work with, it’s just a flat, clean lake.
We do get a tiny bump in energy around the 23rd of August, Sunday, where the combined energy hits 50 and the swell bumps up to 2ft from the NNE, but the period is a lousy 6 to 7 seconds and it’s blowing onshore. That’s not surf, that’s just messy whitewater. For The Cove – a beach and reef setup that’s fairly exposed – we need a proper groundswell from the NNE to line up right, and we just aren’t getting it.
Honestly, the only real standout – and I say that loosely – is a few of those glassy mornings when the wind drops right off. But with swell under 1ft, it’s barely a paddle. There’s no day in this entire 16-day window where you’d point your car towards The Cove for a legit session.
If you’re a kitesurfer, this whole stretch of onshore wind might be more your scene, because for a wave rider, it’s a total bust. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there, but that doesn't help the flat spell.
Bottom line: it’s a long, dry run. No standouts, no hidden gems. Forecasts can change, but right now, save your wax.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 28°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | NE 8 | SSE 4 | S 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 10 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:34PM1.03m | 9:53AM0.97m | 10:19PM0.99m | 10:43AM0.97m | 11:02PM0.94m | 11:32AM0.95m | 11:45PM0.88m | 12:20PM0.92m | 00:27AM0.82m | 1:10PM0.88m | 1:12AM0.77m | 2:01PM0.85m | 2:00AM0.72m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:43AM-0.05m | 3:59PM-0.08m | 4:28AM-0.05m | 4:48PM-0.02m | 5:14AM-0.03m | 5:39PM0.06m | 6:00AM0.01m | 6:32PM0.13m | 6:49AM0.05m | 7:27PM0.19m | 7:39AM0.09m | 8:22PM0.23m | |||||||
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
7:59 | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 35 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 4 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 3 | SSE 3 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | NE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 9 | E 7 | NE 8 | E 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 4 | ESE 8 | NE 10 | S 5 | NE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | NE 9 | E 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 10 | E 8 | NE 10 | — | NE 9 | ESE 12 | N 6 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 |
— | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 3 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | — | ESE 4 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | S 4 |
2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 13 | 17 | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1225 | 1007 | 1727 | 1218 | 288 | 1727 | 45 | 288 | 416 | 306 | 288 | 288 | 288 | 227 | 285 | 130 | 136 | 375 | 137 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Florida | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Cove 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 can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Cove 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) 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 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 is 0 km (0 miles) from West Palm Beach. If you plan a vacation in South Florida, look for hotels and other accommodation in West Palm Beach. West Palm Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











