The Cove surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Saturday 16 May 2026 BST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
The Cove surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's The Cove sea temperature is
8.7° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 (May 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 1.8m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 16th May)4ft (1.2m) 9s
Best Surf10AM (Sun 17th May)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 17th May)6ft (1.8m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Fri night, calm by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue night, strong winds from the W by Wed morning).

Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
3
4
4
3
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
1
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
N
9
1.4
N
9
1
W
12
1.6
W
13
1.8
W
13
1.7
W
12
1.5
W
12
1.4
W
11
1.2
W
10
0.9
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.3
W
16
0.7
W
14
0.8
W
13
0.7
W
12
0.6
W
12
0.7
W
11
0.6
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
436
313
290
888
1110
860
607
466
308
154
108
39
45
206
215
139
96
114
86
58
52
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
10
N
10
SE
10
WSW
5
NE
10
SSE
5
SE
10
SSE
20
SE
30
SE
25
ESE
15
W
40
WSW
40
W
15
SW
20
SE
15
SW
5
SSW
15
S
15
WSW
10
ESE
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
8:35AM5.04m
9:06PM5.08m
9:22AM5.10m
9:48PM5.13m
10:12AM5.06m
10:33PM5.11m
11:04AM4.93m
11:20PM5.00m
12:01PM4.73m
00:11AM4.84m
1:04PM4.50m
1:08AM4.65m
2:15PM4.30m
2:13AM4.48m
Low Tide
2:58PM1.07m
3:20AM1.21m
3:41PM1.07m
4:05AM1.11m
4:26PM1.18m
4:52AM1.10m
5:12PM1.40m
5:42AM1.19m
6:01PM1.69m
6:35AM1.35m
6:54PM2.00m
7:36AM1.54m
7:56PM2.27m
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
rain showers
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:45
4:43
4:41
4:39
4:37
4:35
4:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:37
9:39
9:42
9:44
9:45
9:47
9:50
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
8
8
7
9
10
9
11
12
9
10
9
10
11
11
10
12
16
14
18
19
16
3
4
3
6
8
7
7
9
6
4
4
5
2
2
6
8
13
11
16
16
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
N
9
1.4
N
9
1.1
N
9
1.6
W
13
1.8
W
13
1.7
W
12
1.5
W
12
1.4
W
11
1.2
W
10
0.9
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.7
W
14
0.8
W
13
0.9
WNW
6
0.6
NW
6
0.7
NW
8
0.6
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.6
W
6
Energy kJ
436
313
190
888
1110
860
607
466
308
154
108
39
19
206
215
62
30
69
86
58
29
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WNW
8
0.6
W
8
1
W
12
0.9
NNE
8
0.8
NNE
8
0.7
NNE
8
0.6
N
8
0.6
NNE
8
0.6
N
8
0.5
N
8
0.4
NNE
8
0.5
E
7
0.4
WNW
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
7
0.7
W
12
0.6
W
12
0.7
W
11
0.4
NNW
8
0.4
NW
7
0.5
W
10
Energy kJ
19
52
290
120
96
75
49
54
51
34
21
24
22
11
9
139
96
114
23
14
52
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
W
10
0.4
WNW
14
0.6
W
15
0.1
W
15
0.1
W
14
0.3
NNE
8
0.3
W
16
0.2
NNE
7
0.2
N
8
0.2
E
6
0.2
NNW
9
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
8
0.3
SE
6
0.2
NNW
7
Energy kJ
17
68
157
4
4
11
45
5
5
3
9
1
1
6
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
N
9
0.6
ESE
6
0.9
SE
4
1
ESE
4
0.3
SSW
3
1.3
W
5
1.4
W
6
0.4
SSE
3
0.5
SE
3
0.6
SSE
3
0.4
W
6
Energy kJ
325
21
27
35
1
83
148
3
4
8
11
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
4
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
87
32
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
87
16
8
186
171
0
9
0
0
0
7
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
4
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
4
4
3
2
3
3
3
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
6
4
7
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
5
9
6
5
9
7
6
5
4
  • 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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