The Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 08 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove sea temperature is
12.0° C
0.1° 

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 8 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, W swell with 374 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Wed 8th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Best Surf10AM (Wed 8th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Most Powerful 4PM (Fri 10th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.


Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about The Cove.

We’re looking at a pretty mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The first real action kicks off on Wednesday, July 8th, with some clean morning waves rolling in. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the west, with a solid 9-second period pushing a moderate wave energy (225). That light cross-offshore breeze from the southwest is a beauty, setting it up nice and clean. This is easily the standout of the whole run. The Cove is a reef break, intermediate-level, and it’s fairly consistent, exposed to that west swell perfectly. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild. Just a heads up, it can get crowded here sometimes.

Thursday morning the 9th repeats the trick – 4ft from the west, 9 seconds, with a glassy cross-offshore breeze. It’s clean again. Thursday afternoon gets a bit messy with onshore wind, so stick to the mornings.

Then the wheels fall off. From Friday the 10th through to Sunday the 13th, it’s a long stretch of poor surf. We’ve got cross-onshore winds, chop, and small, weak swells. The combined energy drops from moderate (214) right down to weak (31). Sunday morning the 12th goes glassy, but the swell is only 3ft and the energy is weak (85) – surfable, but ordinary.

Monday the 13th is flat out poor with tiny waves.

Things perk back up a little on Tuesday the 14th. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the WNW, but here’s the kicker – the period jumps to 11 seconds, giving it some decent groundswell punch and a combined energy of (261). It’s also clean under a cross-offshore breeze. This feels like a second-best option, but a distant second to that Wednesday morning. Tuesday afternoon is marginal, and from Wednesday the 15th onward, it’s back to small, weak surf until Sunday the 19th.

Now, into the second week, we get a funky little pulse. On Monday, July 20th, we’re looking at 5ft swell from the WNW, but the period is a weak 6 seconds and it’s cross-onshore and choppy. The energy is moderate (172), but the quality is poor.

Then things get interesting but ugly for experts only. Tuesday the 21st sees a big jump: 8ft swell from the west, with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1136 (very strong). But it’s onshore wind and the surf quality is ranked poor – it’ll be a raw, powerful, and lumpy mess. It continues through Wednesday and Thursday, with big (8ft) but onshore and choppy conditions. Not a fun paddle for anyone but the most experienced, and even then, it won't be pretty.

Overall, the only truly clean, good surf window is Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th of July in the mornings. The rest is either flat, blown out, or too big and messy. If you can paddle, the morning of the 8th is the one.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
2
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
9
1.3
W
9
1.3
W
9
1.2
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.1
W
9
0.8
W
9
1.3
W
10
1.2
W
10
1.3
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
9
0.8
W
8
0.7
WNW
8
0.6
W
7
0.5
WNW
7
0.5
WNW
7
0.4
WNW
10
1
WNW
11
1
W
11
0.8
W
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
201
282
287
229
306
184
99
374
273
319
246
158
84
62
40
31
29
38
254
233
122
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
15
WNW
0
ESE
5
SW
5
NNW
5
NNE
20
NW
15
WNW
15
WNW
15
NW
10
NNW
5
W
0
NW
10
NNE
5
S
5
NE
15
NE
10
SE
10
ESE
20
ESE
15
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
3:28PM4.15m
3:34AM4.35m
4:32PM4.19m
4:44AM4.32m
5:39PM4.30m
5:57AM4.37m
6:43PM4.48m
7:09AM4.50m
7:42PM4.70m
8:15AM4.66m
8:36PM4.92m
9:14AM4.82m
9:27PM5.10m
Low Tide
9:06AM1.88m
9:27PM2.34m
10:13AM1.93m
10:45PM2.31m
11:26AM1.91m
00:02AM2.14m
12:33PM1.81m
1:08AM1.85m
1:33PM1.67m
2:06AM1.53m
2:27PM1.53m
2:58AM1.22m
3:16PM1.44m
3:47AM0.99m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:18
4:18
4:20
4:22
4:24
4:24
4:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:19
10:17
10:16
10:15
10:14
10:13
10:12
 mm
3
2
Temp °C
17
19
16
21
18
17
10
12
12
13
13
11
15
15
14
17
17
17
20
20
17
Feels °C
15
17
15
21
18
18
6
8
9
11
11
10
12
12
12
15
15
14
18
17
13
  • 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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