Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, WNW swell with 1,060 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, looking at your local stretch for the next couple of weeks. Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it's a frustrating start. The waves are there, but the wind is just wrecking everything for days. It’s going to be a long wait for the good stuff.
The first real chance of getting wet doesn't come around until Friday, July 25th. Even then, it's a bit of a beast. The Cove is pumping out a solid 10 to 12-foot swell from the NW, with a combined energy reading of 1525 (strong) – that's a lot of power. But this is a reef break, and with that size, it's strictly for the experts. The wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy, so it's more of a spectacle than a session for most. There's a hint of a window on Saturday afternoon, July 26th, with the wind dropping to a light breeze, making it less choppy, but still huge.
The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, looks like Monday, July 28th. The wind finally swings offshore from the SSW, with a light breeze. The swell is a solid 6 feet from the WNW, with a period of 9 seconds, and a combined energy of 963 (moderate). The wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions," and with that clean, offshore wind, The Cove (reef) will be absolutely firing. It's a WNW swell, but the optimum direction for this spot is NW, so it's a bit offset, but the clean conditions and decent size make it the pick of the entire forecast.
After that, the week of the 29th to the 1st of August sees a steady run of chest-to-head-high waves (5 to 7 feet), with periods around 9-11 seconds, but the wind is mostly a strong cross-offshore breeze, which will keep the surface a bit lumpy. It's not the clean perfection of the 28th, but there'll be waves to be had for the keen.
To sum it up: the first week is a waste of time. The one day to circle on your calendar is Monday, July 28th. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the WNW on Sun night, strong winds from the WNW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 6 | W 11 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 125 | 108 | 106 | 147 | 101 | 81 | 59 | 27 | 45 | 114 | 90 | 183 | 270 | 199 | 478 | 437 | 351 | 196 | 342 | 444 | 858 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:45AM4.85m | 11:44PM5.19m | 12:31PM4.70m | 00:29AM5.05m | 1:16PM4.50m | 1:14AM4.84m | 2:04PM4.29m | 2:03AM4.58m | 2:54PM4.11m | 2:57AM4.31m | 3:51PM3.98m | 4:00AM4.08m | 4:54PM3.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:20AM0.88m | 5:31PM1.54m | 6:05AM1.00m | 6:14PM1.70m | 6:51AM1.22m | 6:58PM1.91m | 7:38AM1.51m | 7:46PM2.13m | 8:29AM1.81m | 8:40PM2.34m | 9:27AM2.09m | 9:49PM2.49m | 10:35AM2.28m | 11:12PM2.51m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — | 4:43 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:55 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | E 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 13 |
| kJ | 125 | 108 | 106 | 1 | 101 | 81 | 16 | 26 | 43 | 114 | 75 | 50 | 22 | 20 | 1 | 28 | 34 | 45 | 12 | 7 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | — | ENE 8 | N 6 | W 9 | N 6 | W 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 15 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 32 | 15 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 20 | — | — | — | — | 39 | — | — | 4 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | — | — | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | WNW 12 | N 6 | E 7 | E 6 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | 10 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 8 | N 5 | — | WNW 7 | W 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 9 | 43 | 147 | 15 | — | 59 | 7 | 45 | 98 | 90 | 183 | 270 | 199 | 478 | 437 | 351 | 196 | 342 | 444 | 858 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 63 | 63 | 183 | 183 | 21 | 35 | 21 | 167 | 289 | 608 | 363 | 778 | 1106 | 484 | 608 | 668 | 298 | 21 | 34 | 34 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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