Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, W swell with 256 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period with WNW 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s is also forecast. 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 1.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.
We've got one spot in the mix: The Cove. It's a reef break, intermediate level, and it's fairly consistent. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.
The first real chance to get wet kicks off on Tuesday, 14 July, with a clean 3ft push from the WNW, period around 10 seconds, and a light ESE cross-offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (237). It's not huge, but it's clean and surfable for an intermediate. Through the afternoon, it picks up a tiny bit to 3ft from the W, but the wind picks up a notch and the conditions get more marginal, so your best bet is the morning session.
Wednesday and Thursday the 15th and 16th are pretty flat and weak. The swell drops right off – we're talking 2ft or less, with next to no energy. The Thursday morning glass-off is a tease, but there's just nothing to ride. Friday through the following Monday, from the 17th to the 20th, the wind is onshore or cross-shore, and it's choppy. The swell is all over the shop, mostly short period windswell, and the reports are all poor. It's a real write-off for a solid week.
Now, hold on to your board. The real standout is the weekend of the 24th and 25th. On Friday, 24 July, we start seeing a massive pulse of long-period groundswell. The swell jumps to 10ft from the W with a 12 second period, and the energy is massive (3056). That's not for the faint-hearted. By Saturday, 25 July, it's still pumping. The morning has 8ft from the W, period at 12 seconds, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW. The energy is still very strong (1686). That's a solid day for experienced surfers only. The afternoon holds at 7ft from the WNW, period 11 seconds, and the wind swings to a light ESE cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy is still very strong (1106). That Saturday is the best on offer, flat out. The swell direction from the WNW is a good match for the Cove's optimum NW direction, and with clean conditions, it's going to be a proper session for those who can handle it. The crowd rating says "sometimes" so you might have a few others out, but it's not a zoo.
After that, Sunday the 26th drops to a still-chunky 6ft from the W, energy moderate (529), and the morning is clean with a light cross-offshore before the onshore kicks in. Monday the 27th is a bit messy with strong wind, and Tuesday the 28th shows some cleaner offshore wind from the SSE with a 4ft W swell (317 energy), which could be a fun, smaller day.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. The second week promises a massive swell event, with Saturday, 25 July, being the absolute standout for experienced surfers. Don't be a hero on Friday the 24th – that's big, powerful, and lumpy. Wait for Saturday.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 123 | 242 | 127 | 64 | 39 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 183 | 198 | 123 | 111 | 157 | 134 | 93 | 56 | 96 | 40 | 78 | 117 | 91 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:14AM4.82m | 9:27PM5.10m | 10:07AM4.91m | 10:14PM5.21m | 10:57AM4.92m | 10:59PM5.25m | 11:45AM4.85m | 11:44PM5.19m | 12:31PM4.70m | 00:29AM5.05m | 1:16PM4.50m | 1:14AM4.84m | 2:04PM4.29m | 2:03AM4.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:16PM1.44m | 3:47AM0.99m | 4:03PM1.40m | 4:34AM0.87m | 4:47PM1.44m | 5:20AM0.88m | 5:31PM1.54m | 6:05AM1.00m | 6:14PM1.70m | 6:51AM1.22m | 6:58PM1.91m | 7:38AM1.51m | 7:46PM2.13m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 4:26 | — | — | 4:28 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:12 | — | — | 10:09 | — | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:01 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NNE 5 | E 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | W 10 |
| kJ | 123 | 242 | 127 | 64 | 39 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 183 | 198 | 123 | 111 | 3 | 1 | 93 | 56 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 47 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | — | W 18 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | WNW 11 | N 9 | N 9 | NW 4 | NNE 4 | N 8 | — | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | N 11 | N 10 | NNE 9 |
| kJ | 106 | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | — | 44 | 26 | 26 | 40 | 2 | 8 | 27 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | — | — | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | NE 7 | — | W 14 | W 9 | E 8 | W 9 | E 5 | — | N 6 |
| kJ | 7 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 4 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 1 | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 2 | SE 2 | SE 2 | ESE 3 | SE 2 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | N 4 | — | WNW 8 | NW 7 | — | — | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 5 | — | 157 | 134 | — | — | 96 | 30 | 78 | 117 | 91 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 17 | 183 | 825 | 65 | 87 | 87 | 63 | 176 | 191 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 21 | 10 | 63 | 46 |
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.
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