Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, W swell with 596 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. 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 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Gotta tell ya straight up—this stretch is a tough one for The Cove. You’re looking at nine days of basically nothing before the ocean even tries to give you a wave. Long, dry spell.
From Sunday, August 16th through Sunday, August 23rd, just don’t bother. The swell is tiny, wind is all wrong—cross and cross-onshore—and you’re looking at chopped-up, weak surf. The 18th has clean conditions, but the swell is only 2ft with weak energy (36), so it’s flat calm, not surf.
The 19th and 20th see some size pop up—5ft to 6ft—and energy gets into the moderate range (560 down to 308), but the wind is onshore and it’s raining. That’s just a messy, lumpy ocean. By the 23rd, it’s 7ft to 8ft with a strong breeze, cross-shore and all chopped up—more of a kite-surfing playground than a spot to paddle.
Now, finally, a window opens on Tuesday, August 25th. The morning is clean with a 5ft swell from the west, light offshore wind from the SSW at 3 mph. Energy is solid at 433, period 8 seconds. By the afternoon, it cleans up even more with a light cross-offshore breeze. Swell holds at 5ft from the west, period stretches to 9 seconds, energy at 455. That’s your best bet—the standout of the whole 16 days. The Cove is a reef break, exposed to the NW, and a west swell should wrap in nicely. It’s fairly consistent here, but crowds can show up sometimes.
After that, it drops. Saturday, August 29th gives you another pulse: 6ft from the WNW with a clean offshore breeze (19 mph from the SSE) and very strong energy (565). The period is a solid 10 seconds. The afternoon stays clean with a moderate offshore wind and a 5ft swell. That’s a decent backup.
The 30th and 31st try to offer something but it’s marginal—cross-onshore wind and lumpy.
So mark Tuesday the 25th and Saturday the 29th on your calendar. The 25th is the real one. That’s your call.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sun night, fresh winds from the ESE by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | WNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | NNE 8 | N 9 | NNE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 91 | 40 | 38 | 54 | 34 | 24 | 29 | 524 | 524 | 394 | 292 | 332 | 263 | 198 | 187 | 209 | 191 | 94 | 99 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:57PM5.10m | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:45PM1.53m | 6:16AM1.25m | 6:23PM1.74m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | — | 9:00 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNE 8 | N 9 | NNE 9 |
| kJ | 91 | 36 | 38 | 54 | 34 | 24 | 29 | 524 | 524 | 394 | 159 | 69 | 45 | 25 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 94 | 99 | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 11 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 42 | 40 | 13 | 41 | 22 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 27 | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | ESE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | WSW 3 | W 5 | — | E 4 | NE 4 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 7 | N 8 | WNW 5 | W 4 | W 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 16 | 4 | 23 | — | 9 | 38 | 292 | 332 | 263 | 198 | 187 | 209 | 191 | 15 | 9 | 24 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 34 | 17 | 1106 | 0 | 16 | 32 | 531 | 362 | 1104 | 229 | 781 | 299 | 223 | 223 | 259 | 259 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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