The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at what The Cove has cookin’ for us.

First thing to know: the water temp is sittin’ around 57°, only 1.4° off the norm—so just about average for this time of year, nothin’ wild.

Right from the jump, Sunday (6th) is a write-off. You’ve got rain showers, a cross-off wind at 15.5 mph, and only 3ft of weak, short-period swell. Combined energy is a low 232, and the wave comment says it flat out: poor surf. Not worth paddling out.

Monday (7th) is a bit more interesting, but only if you’re an expert. The afternoon brings 8.2ft of swell from the W at 13 seconds, with a combined energy of 2191—solid groundswell. Strong offshore wind (SW at 21.7 mph) will make it clean, but that period is long enough that at a reef break like The Cove, it could stand up fast and punchy. Not for beginners. The morning is smaller at 5.2ft but still clean; still not great.

Tuesday (8th) morning shows the biggest swell of the early period: 11.5ft from the W at 12 seconds, combined energy at 3159. That’s a lot of water moving. Offshore wind from the SSW at 24.9 mph is gonna groom it, but paddle-out will be a battle. Strong offshore and clean, but hard to get into—this is expert territory only. By afternoon, the wind swings onshore (NNE 12.4 mph) and it turns into a messy 9.8ft, so no good.

Wednesday (9th) drops back to 5.6ft in the morning, but cross-on wind from the NW at 15.5 mph makes it choppy. Not worth it. Afternoon is cross-shore and lumpy—still poor.

Thursday (10th) is a glimmer. Morning has 2.6ft and an offshore breeze from the SSE at 15.5 mph, but the swell is weak and short period (7 secs, combined energy only 84). Afternoon picks up a bit to 3.6ft, cleaner, but still ordinary.

Friday (11th) is a mess. 6.6ft swell but period drops to 6 seconds, and cross-wind from the west makes it lumpy with cross-chop. Not good.

Here’s where it gets better. Saturday (12th) morning is a standout for the first week. You’ve got 6.9ft of groundswell from the WNW at a decent 12-second period, combined energy of 1237—moderate but solid. Wind is SE at 12.4 mph, cross-off, keeping it clean. This is The Cove at its best in this stretch. Crowds are *sometimes* a factor here, so you might have some company, but the reef will handle that long-period swell well. Intermediate surfers should have a go. The afternoon gets cross-shore and messier, so hit the morning.

Sunday (13th) is big again: 8.2ft in the morning, 9.8ft in the afternoon, both with long-period WNW swell and cross-off winds. Clean, but at 9.8ft and 12 seconds, that’s expert level. Combined energy hits 2692 in the afternoon.

Monday (14th) stays solid—7.5ft to 7.9ft, clean, but winds are strong and it’s still big. More for experts.

Tuesday (15th) drops off. Only 3.9ft in the morning with offshore wind, but the swell direction shifts to the N and it’s weak (energy 535). Not great.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Wednesday (16th) through the next week, it’s mostly poor with onshore winds, small swell, or messy conditions. The best of the late period is Thursday 17th: morning has 7.2ft from the W at 10 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze (SSW at 6.2 mph) and combined energy of 913—clean, moderate wave energy. The afternoon jumps to 13.1ft from the W at 13 seconds, combined energy a massive 5288—that’s strong to very strong energy. But cross-shore wind and that size make it expert only, and a little chunked up.

Friday (18th) and beyond fade back to onshore winds and chop, with no real standouts.

Best on offer: Without a doubt, Saturday 12th morning is the pick—clean, moderate groundswell, good size for intermediates. Thursday 17th morning is a close second for the second week, but it’s more promising than certain at this range.

If you’re an expert, Tuesday 8th morning and Sunday 13th have big, clean swell, but be ready for a fight.

Read more