Cox Bay (Tofino) Alert Guide

British Columbia, Canada · part of the Cox Bay (Tofino) spot guide

The La Perouse Bank buoy (46206) reports wind as well as waves, so a live-observation alert with an offshore-wind gate is sound, though its wave-direction can be intermittently blank. The height below is the buoy’s open-ocean reading; the beach filters it, so the face runs smaller.

The forecaster's checklist

1. 1.Read the La Perouse Bank buoy (46206) for a height around 4-to-5 feet or more with period of 10 seconds or more; 11-to-16 seconds is the sweet spot.
2. 2.Want swell direction from the west (about 250–270°) ideally, with northwest reliable in fall and winter and southwest also good.
3. 3.Watch that it is not too big — past roughly seven-to-eight-foot faces the beach starts closing out toward its maxing ceiling.
4. 4.Score a light east, southeast or northeast offshore, best in the clean window behind or between winter fronts; the buoy reports wind, so use it.
5. 5.Target mid-to-high tide as a default, mind the strong headland-corner rips and drifting logs, and wear full cold-water kit.

Local winds & tide

Best wind: E–SE–NE offshore — from 60° to 150° (ENE–SSE).

Surfable at all stages, generally best mid-to-high, though the bar configuration means low tide can be best in some periods; the big tidal range strongly affects which bank works and rip strength.

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