Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
18.4°C
0.9° 

Cowries surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cowries surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,322 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with NE 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 15th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 7s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 16th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Wed 16th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer at Cowries. This is a reef and point set-up, and it’s fairly consistent, but we’ve got a bit of a slow start here. The first decent recommendation doesn’t come until Thursday the 17th of September, so we’re looking at a few quiet days before things kick off.

The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing too wild.

The best of the lot shapes up to be Thursday the 17th in the morning. We’ve got a solid 7 ft SSE swell rolling in, and the wind is a light cross-off from the SSW at just 6 mph, so it’ll be clean. The combined energy is moderate (835), and the period is 10 seconds, which gives some decent shape. This is the standout – a proper session on the cards.

Friday the 18th morning is another good one, with 4 ft SSE swell and glassy conditions – wind is dead calm from the east at 3 mph. The energy is moderate (355), and the period is 9 seconds. That’s a clean, fun-sized wave for a relaxed paddle.

Tuesday the 22nd morning is also worth a mention. We’ve got 5 ft SSE swell, glassy wind from the south at 3 mph, and combined energy of 663 (moderate). A solid option for a clean session.

Now, the rest of the window is pretty average. The swell jumps up to 10 ft on Wednesday the 16th, but the wind is a fresh cross-off from the SSW at 19 mph, making it messy and tough. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, the quality is questionable.

Later in the second week, from the 23rd onwards, the wind turns mostly cross-on or onshore, and the swell drops off. The period gets longer (12 seconds on the 23rd), but with the wrong wind, it’s just not worth paddling out. The combined energy is low to moderate (267 to 299), and the conditions are choppy.

There’s a bit of a gap from the 20th to the 21st where it’s almost flat or just too messy, but then the 22nd gives us that glassy window. After that, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions right through to the end of the month. A few mornings on the 29th and 30th have clean cross-off wind, but the swell is tiny (3 ft to 4 ft), so it’s more of a longboard cruise than anything exciting.

So, overall, Thursday the 17th morning is the one to aim for – best swell, clean wind, and moderate energy. Friday the 18th morning and Tuesday the 22nd morning are solid back-ups. The rest is a write-off.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon night, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed morning, calm by Thu afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
2
2
2
2
3
1
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ENE
7
0.7
NE
7
1
SSE
6
2.5
S
9
3
S
10
3
S
10
3
S
10
2.2
SSE
10
1.8
SSE
9
1.5
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
0.8
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.7
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.4
SSE
8
0.3
SSE
10
0.2
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
81
49
85
1010
1633
1568
2034
825
499
315
289
220
110
110
83
39
24
19
8
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
10
S
30
S
20
SSW
30
SSW
35
S
25
SSW
10
SSW
10
E
10
NW
5
E
10
NE
10
W
5
S
10
NNE
10
WNW
10
N
10
NNW
15
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
10:19PM1.21m
10:38AM1.40m
11:02PM1.09m
11:18AM1.36m
11:49PM0.98m
12:04PM1.30m
00:46AM0.90m
12:59PM1.24m
2:00AM0.85m
2:06PM1.22m
3:22AM0.85m
3:16PM1.23m
Low Tide
4:15AM0.29m
5:06PM0.30m
4:48AM0.38m
5:58PM0.37m
5:25AM0.47m
6:58PM0.43m
6:10AM0.54m
8:09PM0.47m
7:10AM0.59m
9:24PM0.46m
8:27AM0.61m
10:27PM0.42m
clear
clear
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:56
5:54
5:52
5:50
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:50
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
21
20
17
11
14
14
12
15
13
11
20
20
17
26
25
19
28
28
25
Feels °C
18
18
12
6
5
6
5
11
10
9
16
17
13
22
21
16
24
25
20
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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