Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 11s period, WNW swell with 1,245 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s 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 2.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what's shaping up for The Cove over the next couple of weeks.
First thing you need to know: it's a bleak run for a while. The pattern is locked into onshore and cross-onshore winds for days, and the swell is just messy. You're looking at a solid block of poor surf conditions from now all the way through to the 23rd of August. Light rain, fresh breezes, and choppy, lumpy waves. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, the one true standout is Monday morning, the 24th of August. This is where it all comes together. A solid groundswell from the WNW is pushing in at 8ft with a long period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 1179, and the wind is light and offshore from the south. That’s going to give us clean, peeling lines at this exposed reef break. This is for experienced surfers only – it's got power, and it's not a beginner wave. The crowds are sometimes an issue here, so expect a few others to have the same idea.
Monday afternoon drops off a touch, with a cross-on wind and the quality going marginal. Tuesday the 25th sees cleaner conditions but much smaller swell, dropping to 4ft and then 3ft. After that, it's back into the doldrums.
There’s a flicker on the 30th of August, a Sunday morning. We get a long-period 12-second swell from the west at 3ft, but the wind is cross-on from the ENE. It's rated marginal, not a full green light.
To be honest, the real window is that Monday morning, the 24th. That’s the one to circle. The rest of the fortnight is largely flat or blown out, with a long gap of very small, clean but weak surf from the 26th through the end of the month. It's a quiet spell for the region.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue night, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat morning, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | W 10 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 387 | 252 | 197 | 295 | 431 | 421 | 339 | 279 | 264 | 162 | 81 | 81 | 130 | 80 | 371 | 1174 | 1027 | 563 | 367 | 153 | 66 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:08AM4.17m | 8:10PM4.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:59PM2.11m | 2:26AM1.71m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | N 9 | NNE 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 387 | 252 | 123 | 71 | 45 | 25 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 162 | 80 | 52 | 22 | 24 | 371 | 1174 | 1027 | 563 | 367 | 153 | 66 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 17 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 10 | WNW 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | WNW 11 | WSW 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | 8 | 15 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 16 | 65 | 32 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 17 | — | WNW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 9 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | WNW 4 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 67 | 73 | 197 | 295 | 431 | 421 | 339 | 279 | 264 | 15 | 81 | 81 | 130 | 80 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 65 | 345 | 362 | 590 | 756 | 239 | 289 | 259 | 87 | 223 | 259 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 17 | 8 |
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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