Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, N swell with 434 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with N 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 (Aug 02) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. 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 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with no proper surf on offer until we get into the second week of August. The whole first week and a bit – from Thursday the 30th of July right through to Sunday the 9th of August – is a write-off. The few waves that show up are small, weak, and fighting against a cross-shore wind that just chops everything up. It’s not gonna be worth paddling out for.
The only glimmer in the whole 16-day window comes on Monday the 10th of August. The Cove is our one and only standout. We’ve got a 3 ft swell rolling in from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is sitting at 128 (weak to moderate). The real magic here is the wind. Early Monday morning, it’s forecast to go glassy – dead calm, flat water. For a reef break like The Cove, that’s a gift. The water temp is about 56°, and the anomaly is zero, so it’s bang on average for this time of year. It’s small, it’s clean, and it’s the only window of quality we’ve got. This is the time to paddle out.
After that, conditions slip back into mediocrity. Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th see a bit of swell (3 ft, WNW) with some cross-offshore winds, so the surface will be clean, but the energy is still low and the waves are just “ordinary.” It’s surfable, but don’t expect much. By Thursday the 13th, the swell drops off a cliff again, and we’re back to tiny, choppy junk through to the end of the forecast.
So, bottom line: one real shot on Monday the 10th. Make it count if you can. The rest of the run is a good time to clean the wax off your deck.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 62 | 54 | 205 | 121 | 86 | 120 | 147 | 299 | 212 | 169 | 251 | 434 | 356 | 230 | 117 | 89 | 82 | 58 | 41 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:14PM4.89m | 10:43AM4.59m | 10:44PM4.94m | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | 11:46AM4.59m | 11:48PM4.91m | 12:20PM4.52m | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | 1:46PM4.29m | 1:55AM4.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:04PM1.69m | 4:30AM1.35m | 4:37PM1.63m | 5:03AM1.31m | 5:10PM1.63m | 5:36AM1.32m | 5:43PM1.68m | 6:12AM1.38m | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | 7:34AM1.68m | 7:47PM2.10m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — |
 | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:28 |
mm | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 57 | 42 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 120 | 147 | 299 | 212 | 169 | 251 | 434 | 356 | 230 | 117 | 89 | 82 | 58 | 41 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 11 | W 6 | — | W 10 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 60 | — | 2 | — | 123 | 54 | 7 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 6 | NW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 3 |
| kJ | 62 | 54 | 205 | 121 | 86 | — | 91 | 60 | 159 | — | — | 36 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1182 | 412 | 447 | 759 | 7 | 21 | 832 | 63 | 21 | 28 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 34 | 65 | 65 |
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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