Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, W swell with 1,395 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with W 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 (Sep 01) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 2.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 1.5m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break down the same deal in feet and degrees.
This 16-day window at The Cove is a real slow-burner. We start with a long stretch of nothing, then a few pulses of energy that might deliver, but it's a waiting game. The first real rideable surf doesn't show up until September 2nd.
Through the end of August and all of the 1st of September, it's flat and messy. The swell is tiny, the wind is a pain, and it's not worth getting the wetsuit on. That's a solid few days of nothing.
The first glimmer of hope is on Wednesday, September 2nd. The Cove gets a clean 8ft swell from the NNW, with a period of 11 seconds. The wind is a light cross-shore from the East, which is okay. There's moderate wave energy (1208). It's a "maybe" sort of day. The water temp is 57°F, which is spot on for the season. Not a standout, but a possibility.
The real one to aim for is Sunday, September 6th. The afternoon is the call. The wind swings offshore from the South, making it glassy clean, and we're looking at a solid 10ft swell from the West. The period is a little short, but the energy is strong (1536). This is excellent, serious surf for experienced surfers. The Cove is a reef break, and with that size, it's going to be a proper handful. It "sometimes" gets a few people, but it won't be packed.
The next day, Monday, September 7th, is a hard pass. The forecast is for a monstrous 23ft swell from the West with a 12-second period, and the energy is insane (13245). That's way too big for The Cove, even for the locals. Stay on the beach.
After that, the window slams shut. From the 8th of September through the 14th, the surf drops into weak, tiny waves with no power. The wind stays clean, but there's nothing to ride.
So, the story is: a slow start, one killer Sunday afternoon on the 6th, and then a long, flat end. It's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Tue morning, light winds from the N by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 11 | N 10 | N 10 | W 7 | W 8 | W 12 | W 12 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 73 | 56 | 33 | 21 | 14 | 144 | 247 | 496 | 504 | 1143 | 725 | 443 | 250 | 624 | 1330 | 1074 | 1057 | 926 | 738 | 593 | 239 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:42AM4.84m | 10:47PM5.13m | 11:13AM4.82m | 11:19PM5.06m | 11:47AM4.72m | 11:55PM4.92m | 12:25PM4.57m | 00:38AM4.69m | 1:11PM4.38m | 1:32AM4.40m | 2:10PM4.17m | 2:47AM4.12m | 3:31PM4.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:44PM1.40m | 5:08AM1.12m | 5:17PM1.45m | 5:43AM1.23m | 5:54PM1.57m | 6:21AM1.42m | 6:34PM1.76m | 7:04AM1.70m | 7:23PM1.99m | 7:57AM2.02m | 8:29PM2.21m | 9:12AM2.31m | 10:04PM2.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | NNE 6 | W 7 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | W 12 | W 12 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 73 | 56 | 33 | 21 | 13 | 144 | 11 | 12 | 504 | 1143 | 725 | 443 | 207 | 126 | 1330 | 1074 | 1057 | 926 | 738 | 593 | 239 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | N 6 | SE 5 | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 17 | — | N 9 | — | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 65 | 32 | 18 | 6 | — | 71 | — | 31 | 30 | 44 | 61 | 45 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | N 11 | E 4 | W 11 | W 10 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | E 3 | E 3 | ESE 4 | W 3 | — | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | W 7 | W 8 | — | N 8 | NW 5 | — | — | — | SSE 2 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 247 | 496 | 132 | — | 2 | 13 | 250 | 624 | — | 48 | 73 | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 65 | 26 | 17 | 370 | 0 | 590 | 421 | 87 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 421 | 345 | 7 | 35 | 531 | 7 | 453 | 35 | 9 |
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.
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