Surf Forecasts:
The Cove surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, W swell with 526 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m 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 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4PM. 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Gap starts now, runs through to Friday the 14th, and honestly, it looks pretty grim. We’re looking at days of onshore and cross-shore winds, chopped-up surfaces, and no real swell window. The energy that’s around is weak, in the 97 to 154 range, and the odd longer-period pulse gets ruined by the wind. It’s not worth getting wet for.
Then we get a stretch of nothing much, with small, messy waves until around the 17th. There’s a brief moment Monday morning where the wind goes light cross-offshore and it cleans up a touch, with a small 3ft north swell, but it’s barely breaking and the energy is still weak at 107. You’d be scratching for anything. Tuesday afternoon brings a jump in size to 5ft, but it’s cross-on and messy as hell, and Wednesday just keeps that lumpy, cross-shore chop going. Nothing here screams “go.”
The next real standout, and I mean the only one worth circling on the calendar, is the early part of the second week. We’ve got a proper groundswell showing up from the west around the 25th, with a 10-second period and energy pushing up into the 278 range, which is moderate. The swell direction is good, but the wind, man, the wind. It’s howling cross-on at 19-22 mph. It’s going to be lumpy and messy, but the size and period might just have enough push to make The Cove (Gardens) interesting for someone who knows the reef. This is a spot that’s fairly consistent but needs the right combo, and this isn’t it. The setup looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.
And that’s about it. After that, it fades out again, dropping back to small, weak, and mostly onshore junk for the final days of the window. The long-range stuff on the 28th and 29th looks slightly cleaner, with a longer 12-14 second period, but it’s tiny at 2-2ft and the energy is low. Not worth holding your breath for.
So, there’s nothing good on offer. It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s not unusual. It’ll come back around; it always does.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat morning, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon night, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the WNW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
92 | 52 | 42 | 99 | 334 | 195 | 124 | 73 | 74 | 76 | 57 | 63 | 63 | 526 | 274 | 195 | 195 | 244 | 321 | 375 | 302 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | 11:18AM4.92m | 11:19PM5.28m | 11:55AM4.77m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM1.34m | 4:58AM0.82m | 5:07PM1.40m | 5:37AM0.98m | 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 | ||||||||
5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 9 | W 8 | W 17 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
62 | 45 | 40 | 25 | 24 | 195 | 124 | 73 | 74 | 76 | 57 | 63 | 63 | 526 | 274 | 106 | 51 | 6 | 19 | 32 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 5 | — | — | — | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | — | — | ENE 9 | NE 8 | — | — | WNW 10 |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | 22 | 35 | 62 | 34 | 13 | 41 | 22 | 28 | 31 | — | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 5 | — | — | NW 10 | N 8 | — | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 12 | — | 3 | 18 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 3 | E 4 | — | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | N 8 |
92 | 52 | 42 | 99 | 334 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 14 | 3 | 2 | — | 173 | 195 | 195 | 244 | 321 | 375 | 302 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 63 | 824 | 593 | 1198 | 13 | 28 | 63 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 171 | 183 | 534 | 87 | 207 | 223 | 223 | 46 |
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.











