The Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove sea temperature is
13.6° C
0.2° 

The Cove surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Cove surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, W swell with 517 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with N 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Mon 17th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 4AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer at The Cove.

The forecast window starts with a slow spell, to be honest. The 16th of August through to the 18th are pretty much a write-off – we’re looking at weak, messy little waves with shifty winds and a combined energy reading that’s barely hitting 186. You’d be wrestling a cross-off or a cross-shore for scraps of 2ft to 4ft of swell, and the periods are short, around the 7 to 9 second mark. Not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate for a wet suit rinse.

Things start to lift a bit on the Wednesday morning, 19th of August. We get a pulse of west swell, 5ft with a 10 second period, and the wind turns light out of the ESE, keeping it clean. The combined energy jumps to 488, which is moderate but finally feels like real waves. Still, nothing huge – just a solid, surfable day for intermediates.

There’s a rough patch from Thursday to Sunday, 22nd of August, where the swell drops off again and winds get onshore or cross-onshore. The energy dips back to feeble levels, and the waves are small and choppy.

Now, there’s a proper standout worth holding out for. On the Tuesday morning, 25th of August, conditions line up nicely. We get 5ft of west-northwest swell with a 10 second period, and it’s dead glassy – a slight air from the SSW, which is offshore for this reef. The combined energy reads a solid 523, and the water temp anomaly is near average for the time of year, so nothing shocking there. The Cove is an exposed reef that's fairly consistent, but you might find a few others out because it gets crowded sometimes. This morning window is the pick of the first half.

The rest of that week into the end of August offers some clean-ish mornings, but the swell size stays modest, around 3ft to 4ft, and the energy is low. The real fire comes in from the 29th of August through the final morning of the 31st. On the 29th Saturday morning, we’re looking at 8ft west-northwest groundswell with an 11 second period, producing a massive 2672 combined energy – that’s strong. Winds are light cross-off from the SE, keeping it clean. It’s going to be a powerful, chunky wave that’s only for experienced surfers. By Sunday the 30th, the swell holds at 8ft, and energy stays high at 1255, but east winds start to blow, making things messier.

The absolute standout of the entire outlook happens on Monday morning, 31st August. The Cove gets a big 13ft swell from the west with a very long 12 second period, and it’s absolutely glassy – a slight air from the SSE, which is offshore. The combined energy is a whopping 4720. This is heavy, expert-level surf with the right wind. The long period does mean this reef will handle it well, but it’s a serious, powerful groundswell. Only the best crew should be out.

So, your two best windows: the glassy Tuesday morning on the 25th of August for a clean, intermediate day, and that massive Monday the 31st of August for the experts. The dive in between has some clean mornings, but the size and energy are limited. It’s a slow start, but it finishes with real punch.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Thu morning).

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
8
0.9
WNW
7
0.6
WNW
7
0.6
N
7
0.5
W
9
0.5
N
7
0.6
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.8
W
11
1.4
W
10
1.3
W
11
1
W
10
1.5
N
8
1.7
N
7
1.5
N
8
1.3
N
8
1.2
N
7
0.9
N
9
0.9
NNE
10
0.8
NNE
10
0.7
NNE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
149
91
40
38
41
24
49
48
151
424
372
200
249
311
275
208
139
122
154
141
102
Wind (km/h)
15
W
15
WNW
5
WNW
10
E
20
E
25
ESE
15
WSW
25
W
10
S
10
ESE
15
ENE
10
NNE
30
NNE
25
NNE
20
N
25
N
20
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
20
WNW
15
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
11:55AM4.77m
11:57PM5.10m
12:32PM4.57m
00:36AM4.83m
1:10PM4.35m
1:17AM4.51m
1:52PM4.13m
2:06AM4.17m
2:44PM3.95m
3:10AM3.88m
3:54PM3.84m
4:38AM3.72m
5:18PM3.86m
Low Tide
5:37AM0.98m
5:45PM1.53m
6:16AM1.25m
6:23PM1.74m
6:55AM1.57m
7:03PM1.99m
7:36AM1.93m
7:49PM2.25m
8:23AM2.27m
8:51PM2.49m
9:29AM2.54m
10:25PM2.60m
11:03AM2.65m
00:01AM2.49m
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
cloud
light rain
light rain
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part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:35
5:37
5:39
5:41
5:43
5:47
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:00
8:57
8:54
8:52
8:49
8:46
8:44
 mm
2
1
3
1
2
1
Temp °C
13
13
12
13
13
13
15
15
14
14
14
12
13
12
11
12
12
11
13
13
12
Feels °C
10
10
11
10
9
10
11
11
11
12
12
9
7
7
6
7
7
7
9
9
9
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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