New Jersey
Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on E swell at 6s.
Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on E swell at 6s.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at The Cove for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at The Cove, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 0-1ft on E swell at 6s.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 13mph from the WNW.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 15mph out of the NNE.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 0-1ft on NNE swell at 3s.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the N.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when The Cove turns Good.
Check The Cove from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
The Cove in Cape May is one of the few true point breaks in New Jersey, producing hollow left-hand barrels that wrap around the rocky point at the southern tip of the state. The south-facing coastline picks up S and SSE swells that the rest of the Jersey Shore misses, making it a go-to spot during tropical swells and south wind events. The unique geometry of the cove focuses wave energy into a defined takeoff zone, rewarding surfers with surprisingly powerful and well-shaped rides for the Mid-Atlantic.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Cove is 1-2ft with a 5.8s swell period. Wind is S at 1mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at The Cove is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft WSW wind swell swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf The Cove is Sunday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 1ft waves, a 5.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
The Cove works best with a S swell and N winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at The Cove. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
The Cove is a point with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. The Cove in Cape May is one of the few true point breaks in New Jersey, producing hollow left-hand barrels that wrap around the rocky point at the southern tip of the state. The south-facing coastline picks up S and SSE swells that the rest of the Jersey Shore misses, making it a go-to spot during tropical swells and south wind events. The unique geometry of the cove focuses wave energy into a defined takeoff zone, rewarding surfers with surprisingly powerful and well-shaped rides for the Mid-Atlantic.
The prime season at The Cove is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at The Cove include rocks, strong currents, shallow sections, localism, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our The Cove forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
