The Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove sea temperature is
13.9°C
0.8° 

The Cove surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


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 TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 1st Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 7s
Best Surf10PM (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 Forecast

Light 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 Summary

Moderate 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
1
3
1
0
2
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
N
7
0.8
N
7
0.6
N
7
0.5
N
6
0.3
W
9
1.3
W
7
1.8
W
6
2
W
8
1.9
NNW
8
2.3
NNW
11
1.9
N
10
1.5
N
10
1.7
W
7
2.2
W
8
2.1
W
12
1.9
W
12
1.8
W
13
1.8
W
12
1.9
W
10
1.9
W
9
1.3
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy 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)
15
E
20
ESE
20
ESE
10
SSE
30
W
20
SSW
35
WSW
35
W
25
NW
10
E
25
ESE
25
SW
35
WSW
30
WSW
20
SW
25
WNW
35
WNW
15
WNW
25
NW
20
WNW
20
SE
Wind State
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
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:09
6:11
6:13
6:16
6:18
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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