
Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SE swell with 40 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, listen up. I just ran the numbers for The Cove, and I'm not gonna lie, it's a rough stretch. For a wave that's usually pretty reliable, this 16-day window is looking mostly flat and messy. If you're hoping for a proper session, you're gonna be checking the cam a lot and getting bummed out.
The water's warm, about 86°, which is normal for this time of year, so at least you can go for a swim.
Your first real glimmer of hope is on the morning of Sunday, August 17th. For the week before that, it's all tiny, weak, onshore slop. The swell energy is weak, reading numbers like 36 and 50 on the 15th, but it's all short-period wind chop. Not worth it. The winds are mostly cross-onshore, which is exactly what you don't want here, making things choppy and ugly.
But that Sunday morning, the wind goes glassy. That's huge. The swell is tiny, only about 2ft, but it's from the NNE, which is the right direction for this place. The energy bumps up to 52, still weak, but with the glassy surface, it might just be enough for a longboard and a few playful waves. The period is short, around 7 seconds, so it won't have any punch, but clean and small beats choppy and flat. This is your best shot, but keep the expectations low—it's a bone, not a steak.
The next day, Monday the 18th, is similar in size, around 2ft, but the wind is back onshore and it's messy. The energy is a bit higher at 66, but it's all over the place. Forget it.
We get a real tease around the 19th and 20th when the swell period jumps to 12 seconds and then 11 seconds. That's proper groundswell energy, which is exciting. But the size is pathetic, just 1ft. On the morning of the 20th, the wind is actually cross-offshore and the ocean is clean. The energy is moderate at 58. There might be a few tiny, lined-up waves on a longboard, but 1ft is about as small as it gets. It's a frustrating tease.
After that, it's back to the same old story. The rest of the week into the 24th is all under 2ft dribble with onshore breezes. The energy just fades away.
So, bottom line: the one standout, if you can call it that, is the glassy morning of Sunday the 17th. It's promising, but it's a far cry from a good surf. The longer-period swell on the 20th is interesting, but it's just too small. This is mostly a dead run. The Cove is fairly consistent, so this kind of flat spell doesn't usually last forever. Forecasts can change, so stay tuned, but right now, I'd find another hobby for a couple of weeks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 28°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 28°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | NE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 7 | 16 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 40 | 13 | 13 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:06PM0.98m | 6:11AM0.84m | 7:03PM1.01m | 7:11AM0.89m | 7:57PM1.04m | 8:07AM0.93m | 8:46PM1.05m | 9:01AM0.96m | 9:34PM1.03m | 9:53AM0.97m | 10:19PM0.99m | 10:43AM0.97m | 11:02PM0.94m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:22AM-0.09m | 00:17AM0.09m | 12:25PM-0.12m | 1:15AM0.04m | 1:24PM-0.14m | 2:08AM-0.01m | 2:18PM-0.15m | 2:57AM-0.04m | 3:09PM-0.13m | 3:43AM-0.05m | 3:59PM-0.08m | 4:28AM-0.05m | 4:48PM-0.02m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | SSE 4 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 7 | SSE 4 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 3 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | S 4 | NE 13 | NE 12 | S 5 | S 6 |
4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | E 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | SSE 5 | NE 8 | ESE 3 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | E 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 12 | ESE 8 |
5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | ENE 7 | E 7 | NE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | NE 8 | E 7 | NE 8 | S 5 | — | NE 8 | NE 8 | — | — | NE 8 | — | E 8 | ESE 8 | NE 11 |
12 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | E 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
15 | 7 | 16 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 40 | 13 | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 1560 | 227 | 133 | 1584 | 133 | 738 | 1652 | 375 | 677 | 1607 | 591 | 375 | 498 | 1007 | 1033 | 889 | 351 | 889 | 1538 | 133 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











