The Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove sea temperature is
13.3° 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 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, W swell with 832 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 (Aug 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 2.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Wed 12th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 12th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 19th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's get straight into it.

The next 16 days at The Cove are a real mixed bag, and to be honest, the early part of the period is pretty ordinary. There's a lot of cross-shore wind and lumpy conditions to wade through before we get a proper window of clean surf. The water temperature is sitting at 56°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The standout session is hands down Saturday, 22 August, in the morning. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the NNW, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SW, keeping things clean. The combined swell energy is moderate at 208, and the forecast scores it as a good session. The Cove is a reef break that's fairly consistent and exposed to the NW swell, which aligns well with the optimum direction. This is the pick of the bunch.

Looking at the rest of the period, the first few days are forgettable. Wednesday, 12 August, has a weak 1 ft W swell (67 energy) but it's a bit ordinary. Thursday, 13 August, morning is glassy with a 2 ft W swell (82 energy), but it's still small and weak. The afternoon gets a bit of energy with a 2 ft W swell (163 energy), but the cross-on wind from the NE spoils it.

Friday, 14 August, is a write-off with moderate cross-shore winds and a lumpy cross-chop. Saturday, 15 August, sees the swell bump up to 5 ft, but with a fresh cross-shore wind from the W, it's lumpy and messy. The combined energy is moderate (152-288) but the wind is not your friend.

Sunday, 16 August, has a clean offshore wind from the N and NNW, with a 3 ft WNW swell (217 energy) in the morning, but the wave quality is still rated poor. The afternoon is a 3 ft NNW swell (180 energy) with a clean offshore, but it's still not a standout.

Monday, 17 August, is a bit of a tease with a cross-offshore wind from the SE, but the swell is only 2 ft from the N (80-94 energy). The afternoon is clean but still small.

Tuesday, 18 August, is a write-off again with cross-shore winds and tiny swell.

Wednesday, 19 August, the swell pumps up to 7 ft from the W with a 10-second period and a massive 837 energy, but it's a moderate cross-shore wind and the conditions are poor. That's a powerful swell but it's too messy to enjoy. Thursday, 20 August, is similar with 6 ft N swell (631 energy) but cross-on winds.

Friday, 21 August, is a cross-shore mess with 4 ft N swell (296-304 energy).

Then we hit the Saturday, 22 August, morning window I mentioned. The afternoon is glassy with a 3 ft N swell (161 energy), but it's not as good as the morning.

Sunday, 23 August, and Monday, 24 August, are glassy but tiny, with 2-2 ft W swells (60-88 energy). Not worth paddling out.

From Tuesday, 25 August, onwards, it's mostly cross-on or onshore winds with weak swell, except for Thursday, 27 August, which sees a 7 ft W swell (703 energy) but with a cross-on wind from the NE. It's a big swell, over 8 ft, so that's strictly for experts if you're game, but the wind isn't helping.

So, to wrap it up, the best bet is the morning of Saturday, 22 August, at The Cove. It's the only window that ticks all the boxes. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too lumpy. Keep your eyes on that date.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the W by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat morning, calm by Mon night).

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
W
11
0.6
W
10
0.4
WSW
10
0.5
W
11
0.7
W
11
0.6
W
10
0.6
W
10
0.8
W
9
1.2
W
5
1.4
W
6
1.4
W
8
1.2
WNW
8
1
WNW
8
0.9
NNW
8
0.8
N
8
0.7
N
7
0.7
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.5
N
7
0.4
NNE
7
1.5
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
41
80
33
64
110
73
68
106
74
127
264
202
127
107
74
51
63
43
28
18
363
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
10
NNW
0
S
0
SSE
5
NE
15
SE
20
WNW
25
WNW
25
W
30
W
30
W
15
NW
20
N
15
NNW
10
SSE
30
SE
15
SE
10
WSW
20
E
20
E
20
ENE
Wind State
off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
9:16PM5.15m
9:57AM4.97m
9:59PM5.31m
10:39AM4.99m
10:40PM5.35m
11:18AM4.92m
11:19PM5.28m
11:55AM4.77m
11:57PM5.10m
12:32PM4.57m
00:36AM4.83m
1:10PM4.35m
1:17AM4.51m
Low Tide
3:05PM1.49m
3:34AM0.89m
3:48PM1.37m
4:17AM0.79m
4:28PM1.34m
4:58AM0.82m
5:07PM1.40m
5:37AM0.98m
5:45PM1.53m
6:16AM1.25m
6:23PM1.74m
6:55AM1.57m
7:03PM1.99m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:26
5:28
5:31
5:33
5:35
5:37
5:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:09
9:07
9:05
9:02
9:00
8:57
8:54
 mm
1
9
4
1
3
3
6
5
1
Temp °C
23
23
19
19
18
17
16
15
13
14
13
13
13
12
11
12
12
13
12
12
11
Feels °C
22
22
18
20
19
17
12
11
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
7
10
13
8
9
7
  • 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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