
Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,187 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for The Cove.
The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got a solid pulse of swell on the way, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story for a lot of it. The ocean is going to be moving, but getting clean, rideable waves is going to take some patience.
The standout window, and really the only time I’d be getting excited, is shaping up for the weekend of the 16th and 17th of August. We’ve got a strong, consistent swell from the W-NW filling in, with moderate wave energy (799) on the Saturday morning. The swell is pushing 8 ft from the west, with a 9-second period – that’s a decent, powerful groundswell. The wind is a cross-off 19 mph from the WSW, which is going to keep the faces clean. This is the pick of the entire forecast. The swell direction is bang on the optimum for The Cove, so expect it to wrap in nicely. It’s a fairly consistent reef break, so there will be waves. Just keep in mind there’s a moderate chance of crowds, and this size (8 ft) is pushing into intermediate territory – it’ll be a bit much for beginners.
Before that window, the swell is pumping, but the wind is a mess. The weekend of the 8th and 9th sees a solid 7 ft to 8 ft W swell, with strong wave energy (738-1005). But the wind is a fresh cross-off, which is okay, but the forecast scores are low. Monday the 10th turns into a cross-on mess, and the surf quality drops right off. The entire week from the 10th to the 14th is basically a write-off for good surf at The Cove – the energy drops, the wind swings onshore, or the period gets too short. For a few days from the 12th, it’ll be tiny and weak.
The water temperature is sitting at 56°, which is pretty much bang on average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
Looking further out, the second weekend (the 22nd and 23rd of August) is a total gamble. The 22nd has a 8 ft W swell with strong wave energy (1046), but the wind is a strong, fresh cross-on from the NNW, making it lumpy and messy. This is one for the experts only, and the conditions will be absolutely horrible. It’s a big, powerful swell, but the wind is going to ruin it. I’d be looking for a different spot that day, or maybe just checking the kite setup – that raw energy with the strong cross-shore wind could be more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfing.
So, to wrap it up: the whole 16-day window is a story of a lot of wind and some solid swell. The one true standout is the morning of Saturday the 16th of August. The Sunday morning on the 17th also has a clean 8 ft swell with cross-off wind, but it’s a little less energy. If you can only get out once, target that Saturday. The rest of the time, you’ll be fighting the wind more than the wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
715 | 983 | 587 | 979 | 847 | 986 | 931 | 644 | 340 | 199 | 104 | 55 | 26 | 38 | 47 | 71 | 86 | 257 | 204 | 246 | 186 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:15PM4.16m | 5:55AM4.19m | 6:32PM4.36m | 7:16AM4.39m | 7:36PM4.63m | 8:20AM4.63m | 8:30PM4.91m | 9:12AM4.84m | 9:16PM5.15m | 9:57AM4.97m | 9:59PM5.31m | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:01AM2.17m | 11:47PM2.18m | 12:22PM2.08m | 1:01AM1.85m | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:59AM1.47m | 2:19PM1.67m | 2:49AM1.13m | 3:05PM1.49m | 3:34AM0.89m | 3:48PM1.37m | 4:17AM0.79m | 4:28PM1.34m | ||||||||
5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | |
mm | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | W 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | W 6 | N 11 | W 11 | W 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
20 | 983 | 28 | 26 | 13 | 13 | — | — | 340 | 199 | 104 | 55 | 26 | 15 | 18 | 63 | 86 | 257 | 27 | 26 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NNW 9 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 12 | N 11 | N 10 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 |
3 | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 16 | 15 | 4 | 25 | 38 | 47 | 71 | 83 | 69 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 9 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 8 | ESE 5 | N 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — |
— | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | ESE 7 | W 4 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
715 | — | 587 | 979 | 847 | 986 | 931 | 644 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | — | 5 | 15 | 50 | — | 204 | 246 | 186 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 412 | 345 | 412 | 421 | 176 | 426 | 207 | 183 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 781 | 1155 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











