The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for The Cove.

To be honest, the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a real dry spell starting off. From Friday the 31st of July right through to the 10th of August, it’s mostly poor surf with messy winds and small, short-period swell. The combined energy is weak, sitting under 100 (133) at best, and the swell is coming from the WNW and N with a short period of just 6 to 8 seconds, which means weak, crumbly waves. The winds are often cross or cross-on, and there’s a lot of rain and clouds in the mix. Not a session you’d paddle out for.

The only glimmer in that first week is Sunday afternoon the 2nd of August. The swell drops a bit to 4 ft from the N, but the wind goes light from the NNW at 10 km/h, making it a light cross-onshore. The combined energy climbs to 310, which is moderate, but it’s still a marginal call. Not a standout, but if you’re desperate, it’s the best of a bad lot.

Then we hit the 11th of August. Tuesday morning brings a real shift. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the NNW with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 885. That’s a solid winter swell, but it’s right on the limit for all but experienced surfers. The wind is from the SE at 20 km/h, blowing cross-off, so the waves will be clean. This is the standout of the entire forecast. The Cove (a reef setup) should handle that NNW direction well, and with clean conditions, it’s the one to circle on the calendar. It’s still a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it, but it’s got real potential. The afternoon is still good, with 7 ft and clean cross-off wind, but the morning is the pick.

After that, it fades again. The 12th of August has a tiny window of glassy conditions in the afternoon, with 2 ft and no wind, but the swell is small and weak. The rest of the second week is just small, weak, and windy.

The water temperature is sitting at 56°F with a 0.2° anomaly, so it’s about average for the time of year. Nothing shocking there.

So, bottom line: the first ten days are mostly a write-off. The one true standout is the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August, with a solid 8 ft NNW swell and clean cross-off winds. If you’re an experienced surfer, that’s your window. The rest is small and messy.

Rusty.

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