New Jersey
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–1ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with barely a breath of wind.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with 8mph NE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 20mph by PM.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 5s with 10mph from the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with light SSE winds and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
The Cove at Sandy Hook is one of New Jersey's premier point breaks, producing long right-hand walls that peel along the tip of the Sandy Hook peninsula. The unique south-facing orientation picks up S and SE swells that most of the east-facing Jersey Shore misses, lighting up on hurricane groundswells and strong south wind swells. A fiercely localized wave with a dedicated crew, The Cove is considered a regional classic and one of the few true point breaks on the entire East Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Cove is 1ft with a 6.6s swell period. Wind is W at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at The Cove is 1ft, produced by a 0.9ft SSE primary swell at 3s, a 0.9ft SE secondary swell at 7s, a 0.4ft WSW wind swell swell at 1s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.3s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
The Cove works best with a SE swell and SW 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 at Sandy Hook is one of New Jersey's premier point breaks, producing long right-hand walls that peel along the tip of the Sandy Hook peninsula. The unique south-facing orientation picks up S and SE swells that most of the east-facing Jersey Shore misses, lighting up on hurricane groundswells and strong south wind swells. A fiercely localized wave with a dedicated crew, The Cove is considered a regional classic and one of the few true point breaks on the entire East Coast.
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 localism, strong currents, rocks, 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
