The Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cove sea temperature is
13.7° C
0.2° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, W swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, W swell with 670 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s 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 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cove in the next 16 days are 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Wed 19th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 12s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 19th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Most Powerful10PM (Mon 24th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s break down this 16-day stretch for The Cove.

It’s a lot of waiting and watching for a spot that loves a north-west swell. There’s a heap of cross-shore and onshore wind that’s going to chop things up for a long while. You gotta be patient, but there are a couple of absolute bombs way out at the end of the forecast.

Right up front, Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are weak. Tiny 2 to 5 ft swells with bad wind. Don’t even bother. That poor run keeps right on going through the weekend. Thursday the 20th has some 6 ft swell, but the wind is straight onshore at 25 km/h and the period is a short 7 seconds. It’s just a mess. The following days through the 25th stay junky, with small waves and moderate cross-onshore breezes. The energy is low to moderate.

On Monday the 24th morning we finally see a clean, tiny 1 ft wave from the WNW with a nice long 12-second period. The afternoon is more interesting, picking up to 4 ft at 11 seconds, also clean with cross-off wind. Energy is moderate (315). You might snag a couple of fun ones, but it’s still just a marginal situation.

Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are a letdown again, with strong 30-35 km/h cross-off winds cleaning the surface but the waves shrink back under 3 ft and the energy is weak. Thursday the 27th is lumpy again.

Now for the good stuff. Sunday the 30th of August is the big payoff. The morning is the absolute highlight of the entire outlook. We’re looking at a massive 15 ft swell from the WNW with a clean 10-second period. The energy is enormous at 4411. The wind is a light, gentle offshore from the SSE at just 15 km/h. For the reef, that’s a recipe for big, powerful, clean lines. This is strictly for the experts – well over 8 ft, so leave the soft tops at home. For the experienced crew, this is going to be a memorable morning.

That same Sunday afternoon is still enormous at 13 ft, but the wind switches to a cross-on from the NW, making it lumpier and a bigger challenge.

Monday the 31st of August is also a win. The morning features a solid 6 ft swell from the WNW, with a gentle offshore SSE wind. Energy is strong (681). The conditions are clean. That’s a very good window for intermediate surfers looking for a big, clean day. The afternoon drops to 5 ft with a cross-off wind, still clean but with less punch.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a total write-off with heavy rain, onshore gales, and messy surf. By Wednesday the 2nd, we get a last tidy window: a clean 4 ft swell from the west with a moderate offshore wind, finishing things off nicely.

The bottom line: sit out the first week and a half. The two absolute standouts are Sunday morning, August 30th for the big-wave experts, and Monday morning, August 31st for veteran intermediates. That’s where you want to be.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Mon night, calm by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
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
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
N
7
0.5
N
8
1
W
12
1.4
W
11
1.2
W
10
0.8
W
10
1.7
N
7
1.5
N
8
1.6
N
7
1.5
N
8
1.3
N
9
1
N
9
1.2
NNW
9
1.2
NNW
5
1.1
NNW
6
0.5
NNE
8
0.6
WNW
8
0.6
W
8
0.4
WNW
12
1.1
WNW
11
1.7
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
24
29
285
448
300
124
306
313
254
284
263
165
238
75
93
35
54
44
56
303
651
Wind (km/h)
20
ESE
10
NW
5
W
20
ENE
20
NE
20
NNE
25
N
25
N
25
NNW
25
NW
25
NW
25
WNW
25
NNW
25
NW
20
NW
15
NW
15
NW
10
SSE
10
SE
20
SE
25
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:10PM4.35m
1:17AM4.51m
1:52PM4.13m
2:06AM4.17m
2:44PM3.95m
3:10AM3.88m
3:54PM3.84m
4:38AM3.72m
5:18PM3.86m
6:14AM3.76m
6:34PM4.01m
7:22AM3.94m
7:29PM4.24m
Low Tide
6:55AM1.57m
7:03PM1.99m
7:36AM1.93m
7:49PM2.25m
8:23AM2.27m
8:51PM2.49m
9:29AM2.54m
10:25PM2.60m
11:03AM2.65m
00:01AM2.49m
12:23PM2.55m
1:05AM2.25m
1:18PM2.35m
1:49AM1.97m
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:39
5:41
5:43
5:47
5:48
5:50
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:54
8:52
8:49
8:46
8:44
8:40
8:37
 mm
7
4
1
1
Temp °C
14
15
13
13
13
12
12
12
11
12
11
12
12
11
11
13
14
13
14
16
13
Feels °C
12
13
12
9
8
8
6
6
5
6
5
7
7
5
6
10
11
13
11
12
9
  • 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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