
Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, W swell with 8,203 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. 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 4.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on what’s comin’ down the line for The Cove. It’s a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, so pay attention.
First up, the water temp is sittin’ about average for this time of year, so no need to dig out the 5/4 just yet. The real story here is the waiting game. We’re lookin’ at a long, dry spell for any decent surf. The first few days are a write-off – tiny, weak swell or just messy conditions. You’re better off stayin’ home or fixin’ your ding.
Okay, the first real flicker of hope comes on Monday the 9th of September. It’s not a standout, but there’s a pulse. The Cove is pickin’ up a 7ft swell from the W, with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a groundswell, so it’ll have some push. The combined swell energy is a solid 1207 (moderate), and with a southerly offshore wind, it’ll be clean. But at 7ft, this is gettin’ into the intermediate-to-expert zone. The crowd might be a factor here, as it’s ‘sometimes’ busy.
Now, the true standout – the one you’ve been hangin’ for – is Tuesday the 10th of September. This is the day. The Cove is gettin’ hammered with a solid 13ft swell from the W, and the period is a juicy 12 seconds. That’s a serious groundswell. The energy numbers are massive – 4093 (very strong). The wind is howlin’ straight offshore from the SSW at 25 mph, so it’ll be absolutely glassy. But, and this is a big but, at 13ft, this is expert territory only. The key there is that the W direction is bang on The Cove’s optimum, and it’s a reef, so it’ll handle that size. The paddle out is gonna be a mission, but the sessions will be unforgettable. Just be aware, the morning is your window; the afternoon turns into a messy cross-onshore with rain.
The rest of that week and into the next is a mess of lumpy cross-shore chop and fresh winds. We get another pulse on Sunday the 15th of September with a 7ft WNW swell, but the wind is a cross-off and the conditions are called ‘marginal.’ It’s there, but it’s a gamble.
The final potential is on Saturday the 21st of September – an 8ft WNW swell with a 11-second period and moderate energy (1886) and a cross-off wind. But it’s still a week and a half out, so treat that as a promising rumour, not a guarantee. The winds are strong, so it’ll be clean, but bumpy.
So, the short story: Tuesday the 10th of September morning is your one true, certified, all-in standout. Be there. Everything else is a scratch or a long shot. The Cove is a reef, so it’ll hold. Stay safe, and don’t tell everyone.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun night, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Sat night, strong winds from the SW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Tue night, light winds from the WSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 8 | WSW 9 | W 8 | W 11 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | NW 10 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
117 | 66 | 461 | 412 | 1130 | 6848 | 4093 | 3511 | 1952 | 632 | 256 | 109 | 42 | 69 | 166 | 275 | 437 | 499 | 1530 | 1066 | 731 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:29AM4.01m | 5:06PM4.09m | 6:11AM4.14m | 6:28PM4.33m | 7:23AM4.42m | 7:29PM4.65m | 8:16AM4.69m | 8:17PM4.95m | 9:00AM4.89m | 9:00PM5.19m | 9:38AM5.00m | 9:38PM5.31m | 10:12AM5.01m | 10:14PM5.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:53AM2.41m | 11:44PM2.10m | 12:19PM2.25m | 00:56AM1.73m | 1:20PM1.99m | 1:50AM1.36m | 2:08PM1.71m | 2:35AM1.05m | 2:50PM1.49m | 3:16AM0.87m | 3:29PM1.34m | 3:55AM0.82m | 4:05PM1.28m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:01 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | |
mm | 6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | W 11 | W 14 | W 12 | W 11 | — | W 10 | NNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | — | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 |
117 | 66 | 24 | 7 | 1130 | 6507 | 4093 | 3191 | — | 153 | 256 | 109 | 42 | 69 | 166 | — | 33 | 499 | 1530 | 1066 | 731 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | SE 7 | W 16 | W 14 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | — | — | WNW 15 | — | — | — |
78 | 28 | 13 | 21 | 315 | — | — | — | — | — | 157 | 39 | 10 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 222 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | NW 7 | SE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | — | — | WNW 12 | — | — | — |
37 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 83 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SSE 4 | WSW 9 | W 8 | — | W 13 | SSW 5 | W 11 | NW 10 | NW 8 | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | S 3 | W 6 | WNW 8 | — | — | SE 3 | SE 4 |
20 | 11 | 461 | 412 | — | 6848 | 78 | 3511 | 1952 | 632 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 275 | 437 | — | — | 6 | 26 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 0 | 368 | 368 | 412 | 700 | 803 | 739 | 531 | 453 | 369 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 531 | 824 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 369 |
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.










