Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
18.0° C
0.7° 

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


Cowries surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, S swell with 536 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Wed 12th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Wed 12th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s
Most Powerful 7PM (Tue 11th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Hey, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down for you in feet and miles per hour.

So looking at the next couple of weeks, it’s a rocky road with a lot of flat or messy days before we get any real juice. The water temp is about 64°F, pretty standard for the season, so at least it’s not a shock to the system.

We start off Tuesday, August 11th. There’s a small 2ft S swell with an 11-second period at Cowries, moderate energy (199). The wind is a fresh offshore at 19 mph, so it’s clean, but the swell is tiny. That afternoon the swell jumps to 5ft from the S with a 10-second period and the energy hits 630, but the wind goes cross-offshore. Still clean, but a bit weak. Wednesday the 12th is a total washout. Thursday the 13th morning gives you 4ft of S swell with a short 8-second period and a light offshore breeze – you’ll get a few, but it’s ordinary (201 energy). The afternoon gets onshore and messy.

Friday the 14th is the first decent call of the week. The morning at Cowries is glassy with a 3ft S swell, 8-second period, and light air. The energy is weak (173), but those glassy conditions make it your best chance for a clean, if small, ride. The afternoon gets a little bumpy.

Saturday the 15th shows a bump to 6ft from the S in the morning, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is a moderate cross-offshore. The energy is moderate (348), but it’s lumpy. Sunday the 16th brings rain and onshore wind – give it a miss.

The whole first week is a tough slog. From the 16th right through the 20th, we’ve got onshore winds, rain, and small, choppy surf. Nothing to get excited about.

Things settle a little in the second week. Saturday the 22nd of August has a SW offshore wind in the morning with a 3ft ENE swell and a 9-second period. Small, but clean. The afternoon is better: 3ft ENE swell with a 10-second period, a gentle offshore breeze, and 216 energy. It’s still ordinary, but clean and rideable.

Now the real standout arrives on Sunday the 23rd of August. The morning at Cowries has a 5ft ENE swell with a 10-second period and a moderate cross-offshore breeze. The energy is solid at 371. But the afternoon is the one to circle: a 6ft NE swell with an 8-second period, clean cross-offshore winds, and a strong combined energy of 836. That’s the biggest, cleanest swell of the whole forecast.

Monday the 24th is a touch smaller, with 3ft E swells and a long 11-second period. The wind stays cross-offshore, so it’s clean, with moderate energy (321). Good for the long-period feel.

Then Tuesday the 25th of August brings a serious pulse. The morning sees a powerful 8ft S’ly swell with a 9-second period and a massive energy reading of 1834. That’s strong, and it’s clean with cross-offshore winds. This is expert-only territory. The afternoon drops to a still-considerable 6ft S’ly swell with 547 energy, which is much more user-friendly and still clean.

Wednesday the 26th of August is a fade-out. The morning is glassy with a 3ft SSE swell, but the period is short at 7 seconds and the energy is weak (113). The afternoon gets ruined by a 1ft SE groundswell (15-second period) and choppy cross-onshore winds.

Bottom line: lock in Sunday the 23rd of August afternoon for the best session overall, and Tuesday the 25th morning for the big, expert-only power. The rest is filler.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
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)
0.7
ENE
10
1.6
S
10
1.3
S
10
1
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.7
S
8
1.1
S
8
1.3
S
8
0.8
SSE
7
0.9
S
8
0.9
SSE
8
1
S
7
1.8
S
7
1.6
S
7
1.3
SSE
6
1.6
SSE
6
1.6
SSE
7
1.7
SE
7
1.9
SE
8
1.6
ESE
7
1.8
ESE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
89
556
352
170
95
63
165
223
63
108
96
89
320
255
147
191
229
287
382
263
334
Wind (km/h)
30
WSW
20
WNW
20
W
15
WNW
20
W
15
W
10
W
10
ESE
15
W
5
SSW
10
SE
15
SSW
25
SSW
25
S
20
SE
20
SE
20
SE
15
ESE
20
SE
15
SE
15
SE
Wind State
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
7:01PM1.72m
7:51AM1.17m
7:51PM1.74m
8:37AM1.23m
8:37PM1.71m
9:20AM1.28m
9:22PM1.63m
10:02AM1.31m
10:05PM1.50m
10:43AM1.33m
10:48PM1.35m
11:25AM1.33m
11:33PM1.19m
Low Tide
12:29PM0.28m
1:50AM-0.01m
1:23PM0.24m
2:35AM-0.03m
2:14PM0.21m
3:16AM-0.02m
3:04PM0.21m
3:54AM0.03m
3:53PM0.23m
4:30AM0.11m
4:43PM0.29m
5:05AM0.20m
5:35PM0.35m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:39
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:25
 mm
2
4
2
1
3
1
4
Temp °C
18
18
12
18
18
14
16
15
12
15
15
14
16
15
14
15
14
14
16
16
15
Feels °C
12
13
6
12
13
10
13
12
8
12
13
12
10
9
10
10
10
11
11
12
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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