Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NE swell with 371 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cowries this week:
The surf forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ at Cowries.
Right off the bat, it’s a slow start. We’ve got a few days of tiny, weak swell that’s just not gonna get you excited. The first real chance to wet a line comes on Thursday the 6th. The morning sees a small 1 foot southerly swell with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind is clean offshore from the WSW. It’s a bit weak, with energy sitting at (120), but it’s surfable and clean. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, so that morning window is your only chance.
We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions after that. Lumpy winds, tiny swell, and a lot of frustration. Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th bring a bit more size, with 4 feet from the ENE, but the wind is howling onshore or cross-off, and the energy climbs to (307) on Sunday afternoon, but it’s just too messy to be any good.
Then, a real standout appears. Thursday the 13th. The morning delivers a solid 8 foot southerly groundswell with a nice 12-second period. The energy is thumping at (2787), and we’ve got cross-off winds from the SW keeping it clean. This is proper size, bigger than the 8 foot mark, so it’s for experts only. The swell direction is South, which matches perfectly with the optimum ENE direction for Cowries? Wait, no. The optimum swell is from the ENE, and this is a direct south swell. That’s a bit of a mismatch for a reef and point, so it might close out or be a bit too straight. Still, for the big-wave crew, this is the most powerful window of the whole forecast.
The following week looks a bit more promising. The real gem of the entire outlook lands on Tuesday the 18th. The morning is glassy, dead calm, with a 5 foot SE groundswell at 10 seconds. The energy is a solid (560), and the conditions are perfect. This is a great size for experienced surfers, and glassy conditions at Cowries with that SE swell? That’s the one to circle on your calendar. The afternoon turns onshore, so keep it to the morning.
Wednesday the 19th is a write-off, and Thursday the 20th sees a tiny 2 foot glassy morning, but it’s not worth the paddle.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a struggle. The standout is Thursday the 13th for the big-wave hunters, but the absolute best bet is the glassy morning of Tuesday the 18th. That’s the session you don’t want to miss.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 11 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | NNE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 12 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 111 | 108 | 38 | 66 | 65 | 84 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 116 | 181 | 202 | 194 | 115 | 53 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:03AM1.20m | 12:54PM1.32m | 1:03AM1.09m | 1:52PM1.36m | 2:17AM1.00m | 2:58PM1.41m | 3:40AM0.97m | 4:05PM1.48m | 4:59AM0.98m | 5:09PM1.57m | 6:06AM1.03m | 6:08PM1.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:20AM0.26m | 7:14PM0.42m | 7:09AM0.32m | 8:31PM0.40m | 8:08AM0.37m | 9:51PM0.34m | 9:16AM0.40m | 11:05PM0.25m | 10:26AM0.38m | 00:08AM0.14m | 11:31AM0.34m | 1:02AM0.05m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 4 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 9 | NE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 111 | 108 | 37 | 66 | 65 | 84 | 26 | 29 | 9 | 116 | 181 | 202 | 194 | 115 | 53 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 7 | S 10 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 10 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 7 | E 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 14 | S 9 | S 13 | E 13 |
| kJ | 7 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 6 | 16 | 56 | 29 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | E 13 | S 4 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 10 | SE 12 | E 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | E 14 | SE 9 | S 13 | E 14 | S 11 |
| kJ | 12 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 13 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | WSW 3 | — | WSW 3 | W 3 | NE 2 | WNW 3 | — | SE 2 | — | — | ENE 7 | NNE 4 | N 2 | NE 6 | NW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 29 | 29 | 1 | 116 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 239 | 102 | 95 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 228 | 3 | 3 | 69 | 123 | 80 | 31 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cowries Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cowries provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cowries can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cowries 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 (Cowries) 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 Cowries 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.
Cowries is 10 km (6 miles) from the city of Port Kembla. If you plan a holiday in Illawarra, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Kembla. Port Kembla has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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