
Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, WNW swell with 258 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with WNW 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 Monday (Jul 13) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 0.9m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for The Cove. It’s a reef setup that’s fairly consistent, and it likes swell from the NW. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf coming up, so don’t get your hopes up too high for the first week. The combined swell energy is pretty low, with values mostly under 100, meaning weak energy. The standout window is actually further out, on Friday the 24th. That morning looks marginal, but the afternoon is where it’s at. We’ll see a 3ft swell from the west with a 9-second period. The real winner here is the wind: it’s glassy. That’s a major positive, meaning the surface will be clean as a whistle. The combined energy is moderate at 229, so there’s enough push. This is the best on offer for the whole forecast.
Before that, Tuesday the 14th has a bit of potential. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the WNW with a 10-second period, and the energy jumps to 237, which is moderate. The wind is cross-offshore from the ESE, keeping things clean. It’s good, but not a standout. The afternoon on the 14th drops to a 3ft swell from the west with an 11-second period, which is a bit longer period, but it’s described as marginal, so don’t expect perfection.
The rest of the first week and into the second is mostly poor surf. The wind is often onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell sizes are tiny. There’s a big gap of many days with no real recommendations. Monday the 20th afternoon has a 4ft swell from the west with a 10-second period, and the energy is moderate at 247, but it’s marginal. Then Tuesday the 21st sees a 5ft west swell, but the wind is a strong 25 mph cross-shore, making it a messy cross-chop. That’s more for kitesurfers than paddle surfers.
From Wednesday the 22nd, the swell builds, but so does the wind. Thursday the 23rd morning has a 7ft west-northwest swell with a 9-second period, and the energy is a whopping 708, which is strong to very strong. But the wind is a strong 16 mph cross-shore, creating a lumpy cross-chop. That’s expert territory, but the conditions are poor. The swell is over 8ft, so it’s only for experienced surfers, and the wind ruins it.
The only other half-decent moment is Friday the 24th morning, with a 4ft west swell and a 9-second period, but the wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s marginal. The afternoon, as I said, is the glassy gem.
So, in summary: the first week is a write-off. The second week has a big swell that’s blown out, and then the very end of the forecast on Friday the 24th afternoon is your best bet. It’s a long wait, but that glassy afternoon with a clean 3ft west swell could be worth it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
43 | 28 | 51 | 45 | 65 | 123 | 242 | 125 | 64 | 39 | 25 | 26 | 12 | 13 | 23 | 24 | 47 | 24 | 48 | 110 | 59 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:42PM4.70m | 8:15AM4.66m | 8:36PM4.92m | 9:14AM4.82m | 9:27PM5.10m | 10:07AM4.91m | 10:14PM5.21m | 10:57AM4.92m | 10:59PM5.25m | 11:45AM4.85m | 11:44PM5.19m | 12:31PM4.70m | 00:29AM5.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:06AM1.53m | 2:27PM1.53m | 2:58AM1.22m | 3:16PM1.44m | 3:47AM0.99m | 4:03PM1.40m | 4:34AM0.87m | 4:47PM1.44m | 5:20AM0.88m | 5:31PM1.54m | 6:05AM1.00m | 6:14PM1.70m | 6:51AM1.22m | ||||||||
— | — | 4:24 | — | — | 4:26 | — | — | 4:28 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | |
— | 10:14 | — | — | 10:13 | — | — | 10:12 | — | — | 10:09 | — | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:05 | 10:04 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 |
43 | 28 | 51 | 45 | 65 | 123 | 242 | 125 | 64 | 39 | 25 | 26 | 12 | 13 | 23 | 24 | 47 | 24 | 48 | 110 | 59 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | E 6 | E 7 | W 14 | W 12 | — | E 7 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | N 9 | N 8 | WNW 11 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | WNW 15 | WNW 13 |
4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 106 | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 58 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | E 7 | W 21 | W 15 | E 6 | W 19 | — | W 18 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | N 8 | — | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | — |
1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 7 | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 2 | — | — | E 2 | ESE 2 | E 6 | E 2 | ESE 2 | ESE 2 | E 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | E 3 | — | — | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | — | N 6 |
1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | 47 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 51 | 170 | 0 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 82 | 59 | 369 | 207 | 370 | 183 | 838 | 32 | 778 | 65 | 10 | 7 |
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.











