The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, so, we've got a bit of a mixed bag on the way. The swell is coming in from the W and WNW, which is a good direction for The Cove, but the wind is all over the place, especially in the early days. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a real write-off, to be honest. Monday morning the 7th, we've got a 6ft W swell at 9 seconds, but it's being hammered by a 19 mph cross-offshore wind. The wave energy is moderate (470), but the conditions are just poor. The swell jumps up to 8ft on Monday afternoon with a longer 11-second period, and the energy gets a bit more serious (1491), but the wind picks up to 22 mph and it's still cross-off, so it's messy. Tuesday the 8th is a nightmare with rain showers and an 12ft swell that's too big for most, with a cross-shore wind that's got a bad chop on it. Wednesday the 9th is flat and weak. We're looking at a gap of a few days of really ordinary surf.

Thursday the 10th is where things start to turn. The morning is small, only 4ft, but the wind swings offshore from the SSE at 16 mph. The energy is still low (161), but the conditions are clean. The afternoon gets better with a 4ft W swell at 9 seconds and a clean offshore wind. The energy is picking up a bit (266) and the word is "good surf conditions". This isn't a standout, but it's a sign of life.

Now, hold onto your board. Saturday the 12th is the real deal. The morning has a massive 13ft WNW groundswell with a 13-second period. The wave energy is pumping at 5202, and we've got a clean offshore wind from the S at 12 mph. This is exceptional surf, but it's only for experts. It's a big, powerful, long-period groundswell, so it's going to be breaking a bit straight at a beach break. At The Cove, which is a reef, it's going to be a show. The afternoon stays solid at 12ft, still with offshore wind, and excellent for experienced surfers. This is the highlight of the whole outlook. The wind is perfect, the swell is big and clean.

Sunday the 13th through to Wednesday the 16th is a bit of a write-off again with onshore winds and ugly conditions. The 14th (Monday) has a small 4ft swell with a clean offshore wind, but it's not big enough to get excited about.

Then we look at the long-range. The weekend of the 20th and 21st is looking promising. On Sunday the 20th, we've got an 12ft WNW swell at 13 seconds, with a fresh offshore wind from the SSE. The energy is huge (4007). It's a bit far out to bank on, but the signs are good for another big, clean session for the experienced crew. The next morning, Monday the 21st, has a small 5ft swell but it's onshore, so it'll be a different story.

So, the standout is without a doubt Saturday the 12th of September at The Cove. That 13ft WNW groundswell with clean offshore winds is the one to circle. After that, the long-range Sunday the 20th is a promising second option, but it's a long way off.

Rusty.

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