Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, S swell with 1,270 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 (Jul 30) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks.
First thing to note, the water at Cowries is 66°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. We’re looking at a pretty drawn-out stretch. There’s a bit of a wait for anything decent, though. The first few days are a total washout with tiny, poor quality surf.
Thursday the 30th of July is the one to circle. We’ve got a solid 5ft south swell rolling in with a period of 8 seconds, pushing a moderate wave energy (318). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW, making for some clean shapes. This is the best on offer. It’s a beginner-friendly size, but crowds are possible here. Come Thursday afternoon, the wind swings and the surf gets choppy, so get out there early.
Friday the 31st is another good look. The morning is clean with 6ft surf from the south with a 10-second period and light cross-offshore winds. The energy is a solid moderate 555. The afternoon gets messy again as the onshore kicks in. Saturday morning, the 1st of August, is still clean with 6ft waves, but the swell direction is shifting a touch more southerly.
After Saturday lunch, it’s a slow fade. Sunday the 2nd has a bigger 6ft swell from the SE with a long 12-second period and good energy (829), but the wind is cross-shore and the surf is only so-so. By Monday, the size drops to 3ft and it just gets smaller and smaller through the week, with a few glassy mornings but nothing with any power. There’s a long stretch of poor surf from the 4th of August onwards, with a mix of tiny waves and onshore chop.
For the second week, into early August, the pattern stays poor. A small pulse from the north-east around the 10th brings 5ft of short-period, messy junk, but the onshore wind ruins it. After that, it's more of the same – small, choppy, and not worth paddling out for. This is a real flat spell, and it’s pretty standard for this spot when the conditions line up this way.
So, to wrap it up: your best bet is Thursday the 30th of July morning and Friday the 31st of July morning at Cowries. Those are the only real standouts. The rest of the window is a long, quiet gap.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 235 | 335 | 606 | 666 | 539 | 787 | 517 | 433 | 398 | 951 | 710 | 497 | 286 | 144 | 88 | 51 | 16 | 99 | 62 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 8:50AM1.07m | 8:44PM1.55m | 9:26AM1.12m | 9:19PM1.52m | 10:02AM1.16m | 9:55PM1.47m | 10:39AM1.20m | 10:33PM1.40m | 11:19AM1.25m | 11:14PM1.30m | 12:04PM1.29m | 00:03AM1.20m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:55AM0.16m | 2:18PM0.35m | 3:27AM0.14m | 2:58PM0.35m | 3:58AM0.14m | 3:39PM0.35m | 4:30AM0.15m | 4:23PM0.37m | 5:03AM0.17m | 5:12PM0.39m | 5:39AM0.21m | 6:08PM0.41m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 10 |
Feels °C | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | S 7 |
| kJ | 235 | 335 | 606 | 666 | 539 | 614 | 517 | 433 | 398 | 951 | 710 | 497 | 286 | 144 | 88 | 51 | 16 | 99 | 50 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | NE 7 | — | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 18 | S 21 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | E 7 | SSE 11 | S 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 62 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 14 | — | E 18 | S 22 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | SE 14 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | — | 6 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | — | S 9 | — | — | S 10 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNW 2 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NW 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | W 3 |
| kJ | 8 | — | 430 | — | — | 787 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 73 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
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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