Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with 916 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what's happening at The Cove for the next couple of weeks.
I've got to be honest with you, the start is a total write-off. The first few days are hammered by cross-onshore winds, making the ocean a choppy, bumpy mess. There's not a single wave worth paddling for. We're looking at a long, dry spell from Thursday, the 16th, all the way through until the beginning of the next week. It's a painful wait.
The first real sign of life pops up on the morning of Wednesday, the 23rd. The wind switches to a light cross-offshore from the WSW, cleaning the surface right up. The swell is a bit of a mixed bag – a 5ft windswell from the WNW with a short period – but it's clean. The wave energy is moderate at 177 (combined energy). For a reef like The Cove, it's a start. The crowd factor is "sometimes," so expect a few others out.
The big-ticket item, and it's only for the experts, arrives on the morning of Friday, the 24th. We're talking a solid 10ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds. That's a ton of juice – the combined energy is a hefty 1340. The problem is the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy and messy. This is big, powerful, and dangerous. The rest of that day and the weekend is just more of the same strong cross-shore breezes, making it look better for the kite crew than the paddle crew.
Things settle down a bit after that. The morning of Tuesday the 28th looks like the best bet for the average surfer. There's a 5ft swell from the west with a 11-second period – that's some proper groundswell. The wind is cross-off from the SW, and the wave energy is a solid 606 (moderate-strong). The conditions are clean. For a reef, that longer period could mean some nice, lined-up waves. It's a "could be good" kind of day, but still a little uncertain.
The last few days fade out into smaller, wind-affected surf, with a couple of clean moments like Wednesday afternoon the 29th, but nothing to get excited about.
So, for the big-wave hunters, the 24th has the size. For everyone else wanting a clean, fun wave, pencil in the morning of the 28th of July. The water temp is about 55°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu night, fresh winds from the NW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the W by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 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 13 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 55 | 214 | 125 | 108 | 103 | 136 | 84 | 79 | 46 | 75 | 49 | 123 | 74 | 71 | 104 | 131 | 383 | 403 | 210 | 114 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 2:54PM4.11m | 2:57AM4.31m | 3:51PM3.98m | 4:00AM4.08m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:29AM1.81m | 8:40PM2.34m | 9:27AM2.09m | 9:49PM2.49m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — |
 | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:58 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 17 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | N 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 9 | N 7 | N 6 |
| kJ | 55 | 214 | 125 | 108 | 103 | 1 | 84 | 79 | 46 | 11 | 43 | 123 | 61 | 66 | 47 | 20 | 5 | 28 | 45 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | E 6 | E 8 | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 12 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | — | — | — | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 24 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 27 | 12 | 57 | 74 | 71 | 22 | — | — | — | 40 | 37 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | N 7 | ENE 10 | W 9 | W 9 | N 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 8 | N 5 | — | WNW 3 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 8 | 14 | 69 | 136 | 17 | — | 2 | 75 | 49 | — | — | — | 104 | 131 | 383 | 403 | 210 | 114 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 65 | 87 | 2465 | 63 | 87 | 65 | 7 | 63 | 32 | 167 | 63 | 63 | 309 | 363 | 176 | 318 | 453 | 183 | 7 |
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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