
Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, W swell with 260 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s 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 1.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a quiet start. The first real chance of a wave comes in on Saturday the 11th, but to be honest, it’s pretty ordinary. The Cove is seeing a 4ft swell from the west, but the wind is a messy cross-shore and the energy is only moderate (273). It’s really just a marginal session at best, and the water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year.
Things don’t improve much through Sunday the 12th or Monday the 13th. The swell drops right off, barely pushing 2ft, and while the wind goes a little cross-offshore, the wave energy is weak (70 and under). It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but it’s not something you’d paddle out for.
Now, Tuesday the 14th is where it gets a little more interesting. The swell is still small at 3ft, but the period jumps to 12 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate (242), and the morning wind is light and cross-off. That’s a clean window for an intermediate session at The Cove, a reef break that handles a longer period swell well. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a fairly average run.
After that, we hit a real dry spell. From Wednesday the 15th right through to Saturday the 26th, the surf is mostly tiny, under 2ft, and the winds are often onshore or cross-on. There’s a lot of clean, glassy conditions, but with barely any swell to push it. The crowd factor at The Cove is “sometimes,” so you’d have it to yourself, but there’s just nothing to ride.
The one bright spot in the long-range is Saturday the 25th. The morning has a light offshore wind from the south, with a 3ft swell from the WNW and a clean surface. Then by the afternoon, it goes glassy with a 3ft west swell and 10-second period. That afternoon session looks like a proper little gem – clean, glassy, and the energy is moderate (188). It’s not big, but it’s the best wave quality on offer across the whole outlook.
The very end of the run, on Sunday the 26th, picks up a bit more size – 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon – but the wind gets messy and strong, making it a lumpy, choppy affair. That’s more a kite surfer’s setup than a paddle session.
So, if you’re patient, the real standout is the afternoon of Saturday the 25th. Glassy, clean, and a little pulse of west swell. That’s the one to pencil in. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too far off to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
267 | 203 | 129 | 68 | 43 | 28 | 51 | 34 | 65 | 106 | 242 | 125 | 61 | 39 | 25 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | 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 | glassy | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 6:43PM4.48m | 7:09AM4.50m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:33PM1.81m | 1:08AM1.85m | 1:33PM1.67m | 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 | ||||||||
4:22 | — | — | 4:24 | — | — | 4:24 | — | — | 4:26 | — | — | 4:28 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 10:15 | — | — | 10:14 | — | — | 10:13 | — | — | 10:12 | — | — | 10:09 | — | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | 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 8 | W 8 |
267 | 203 | 129 | 68 | 43 | 28 | 51 | 34 | 65 | 96 | 242 | 125 | 61 | 39 | 25 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | E 7 | NNW 6 | E 7 | E 7 | W 15 | W 14 | W 12 | — | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 106 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | W 21 | — | E 6 | W 19 | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
— | — | — | — | 1 | — | 9 | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 7 | ENE 2 | — | — | E 2 | ESE 2 | ESE 2 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 3 | E 2 | NE 3 |
— | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 170 | 0 | 176 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 63 | 369 | 207 | 171 | 50 | 864 | 653 |
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.










