Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with 1,211 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cove this week:
The surf forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM. 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 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at The Cove.
The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is about normal for this time of year.
First thing – the next week and a half is pretty bleak. Starting Wednesday afternoon and running through to Sunday the 23rd, we’ve got a solid stretch of poor conditions. Winds are mostly onshore or side-shore, and the swell is either short-period or weak. The energy readings are all over the place, but nothing worth getting excited about. You’re better off staying dry.
But then, Monday morning the 24th of August shows up like a promise. The Cove is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, and it works best with a NW swell. That morning we’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the WNW, with a nice long 11-second period. That’s real groundswell. Winds are light from the SE at 6 mph, cross-offshore, so it’s going to be glassy. The combined energy is a strong 1203. This is the day. It’s going to be too big for beginners, but for the experienced surfers, it’s going to be firing. The afternoon is still good, but the swell drops to 7ft and the energy eases to 959, so the morning is the winner.
After that, it drops off fast. Tuesday the 25th still has clean conditions but the swell is down to 4ft, and by Wednesday the 26th, we’re at 2ft with strong winds up to 28 mph. Not worth the paddle.
The rest of the forecast is mostly flat. There’s a moment on Sunday the 30th with a small 3ft swell and a light offshore, but it’s only a 1 out of 10. Surfable, but barely. Monday the 31st has a tiny 2ft swell with a light offshore, but it’s not going to get you out of bed.
So, the takeaway: if you’ve got a window, aim for the 24th of August. That Monday morning at The Cove is the real deal. Everything else is pretty quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 9 | N 8 | N 9 | N 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 252 | 245 | 275 | 635 | 525 | 360 | 258 | 257 | 132 | 99 | 103 | 107 | 204 | 415 | 1198 | 954 | 516 | 339 | 153 | 65 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | 3:54PM3.84m | 4:38AM3.72m | 5:18PM3.86m | 6:14AM3.76m | 6:34PM4.01m | 7:22AM3.94m | 7:29PM4.24m | 8:08AM4.17m | 8:10PM4.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | 9:29AM2.54m | 10:25PM2.60m | 11:03AM2.65m | 00:01AM2.49m | 12:23PM2.55m | 1:05AM2.25m | 1:18PM2.35m | 1:49AM1.97m | 1:59PM2.11m | 2:26AM1.71m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | 8:52 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | N 9 | N 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 252 | 123 | 71 | 45 | 25 | 12 | 258 | 257 | 132 | 99 | 48 | 21 | 12 | 415 | 1198 | 954 | 516 | 339 | 153 | 62 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | — | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | WNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 25 | — | 11 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 51 | 69 | 65 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 17 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 12 | N 7 | WNW 10 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 1 | 54 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | N 9 | N 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 82 | 245 | 275 | 635 | 525 | 360 | 30 | 23 | 36 | 40 | 103 | 107 | 204 | — | — | — | 3 | 29 | 36 | 31 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 345 | 1155 | 771 | 1104 | 388 | 785 | 223 | 46 | 223 | 223 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 34 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Are you planning a holiday in Scotland - North Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near The Cove, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Scrabster which is 7 km (4 miles) away. Other places in and around Scotland - North Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Wick which is 39 km (24 miles) away and Kirkwall, 56 km (35 miles) away.
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