The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up at The Cove over the next couple of weeks. This is a reef setup that gets pretty exposed, and it likes that NW swell window. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – a nice little anomaly, feels good.

The forecast opens with a solid run. Monday 14th September morning kicks things off with a clean 3ft swell from the NNW, period around 12 seconds. It’s a bit small, but the wind is offshore from the south, so things will be lined up and tidy. The wave energy is moderate at 386, but the quality is there. Monday afternoon picks up a bit more size, 4ft from the west, period a touch shorter at 9 seconds, but the wind stays offshore and gentle, giving you clean little runners. This is the window for the intermediate crew – not too gnarly, good shape. Crowds are always a possibility here, so get amongst it early.

Tuesday 15th September turns ugly. The wind swings onshore and picks up, and the swell gets messy. Wednesday 16th September isn’t much better, with a choppy 7ft and cross-onshore wind. We’ve got a lull in quality here for a few days. The Thursday and Friday mornings have some size, but the wind is strong and the reports are marginal at best.

Then the standout arrives. Friday 18th September afternoon – this is the one. A solid 12ft groundswell from the WNW, period a nice 12 seconds, with a gentle offshore breeze from the south. The wave energy is pumping at 3765 – strong stuff. This is an experienced surfer’s wave, no doubt. It’s steep, powerful, and that reef will be working. If you’ve got the skills, this is your session.

The swell stays big into the weekend, but the wind becomes a problem. Saturday 19th September is a write-off with near gale-force winds. Sunday 20th September has some massive 13ft+ swell but crosswind chop destroys it. You’d be better off with a kite board in that stuff than a paddle.

The following week has moments. Monday 21st September afternoon looks good again – 7ft from the WNW, period 11 seconds, and clean with cross-off winds. Energy is moderate at 1182. For the experienced guys, that’s a quality session.

We then see another gap in quality through Wednesday, but look ahead to Friday 25th September. Friday morning brings a 7ft swell from the west, long period of 15 seconds, and light offshore winds. That’s a beautiful, clean groundswell. By Friday afternoon, it’s glassy – wind at just 3 mph from the northwest, swell 8ft from the WNW, 16-second period. The energy is massive at 2481. That’s point-and-reef perfection. This is the second standout.

Sunday 27th September afternoon also looks promising – 8ft from the WNW, 11-second period, and glassy conditions again. A gorgeous clean swell.

Then it gets wild again. Monday 28th September morning has a 16ft monster from the west, but with strong cross-off winds. That’s only for the hardcore, and even then, the conditions are marginal. The run-up to the end of the forecast is better, with Tuesday 29th September afternoon showing a clean 8ft from the WNW with a moderate offshore.

So, to wrap it up: if you’re after the best on offer, aim for Friday 18th September afternoon and Friday 25th September afternoon. The reef will be firing, clean, and powerful. The Cove is on.

Rusty.

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