The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s paddle out and see what’s in store.

Straight up, this one’s all about The Cove. It’s a reef set-up exposed to the west swell, and it’s the only break in the game over the next couple of weeks. The outlook kicks off with a real tease, but if you’re willing to pick your moments, there are a handful of good windows.

Tuesday afternoon (the 7th of July) is your very first look-in. Overcast, wind is barely a breath from the east at 3 mph – glassy as it gets. That gives you a clean surface on a 3 ft west swell rolling in at a solid 9 seconds. The combined swell energy is moderate at 213, enough to make it feel lively without it being overwhelming. The ocean here is sitting at 54°, pretty much bang-on average for this time of year. Honestly, this is the pick of the early run. Not a standout on the big scale, but for a quick session with no stress, it’s a winner.

Thursday morning (the 9th of July) shapes up nicely too. You’ve got a light southwest wind at 3 mph slipping into a cross-offshore – real clean. The swell is 4 ft from the west, still with that same 9-second period. The energy bumps up to 225 – you’ll feel the extra push. Another solid morning.

Now, keep an eye on Thursday afternoon. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the west, with combined energy hitting 345, which is the strongest of the whole run. But – and it’s a big but – the wind turns onshore from the north-northwest at just 3 mph, plus the tide might get weird. It’s one of those marginal calls. If you can time the tide right, there could be some punch, but it’s risky.

Friday the 10th of July morning is a total wildcard. Swell size drops to 2 ft, but the period stretches out to 12 seconds, coming from the west. More energy in the water than you’d expect from the height – 214 on the energy scale. That’s a long-period groundswell, which can make for good lines at a reef break like The Cove, but also means longer lulls between sets. The wind is a light onshore at 3 mph, so it’s not clean. A gamble.

After that, things go downhill fast. From around Saturday the 11th right through to the end of the second week, it’s mostly small, weak, and plagued by cross-shore or onshore winds. The combined energy drops into the double digits or low triple digits, with a lot of days sitting below 100. That’s weak wave energy. There’s a brief moment on Sunday the 12th morning – clean conditions with a light cross-offshore from the southeast, but the swell is a pathetic 2 ft with only 66 energy. Surfable, but barely.

The one flicker of hope comes right at the tail end. Wednesday the 22nd of July afternoon sees the wind go glassy again from the east at 3 mph, and a 3 ft west-northwest swell with a 10-second period pumps the energy up to 233. It’s good surf conditions on paper, but that’s a long way out – more than two weeks. Worth a look on the charts later, but don’t bank on it yet.

So, bottom line: the best windows are Tuesday afternoon (7th July) and Thursday morning (9th July) for clean, moderate waves. No absolute standouts, but there’s some fun to be had if you’re patient. The middle of the run is mostly a write-off, so pick your days and don’t get too attached to the long-range stuff.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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