Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Issued: 9 pm 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
18.8° C

1.3°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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


Cowries surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 2,717 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period with SE 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 (Jul 07) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Tue 7th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Best Surf 1PM (Tue 7th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Tue 7th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, checking in from down the coast.

Right now, we’re looking at a stretch that’s gonna test our patience a bit. The next week or so is a mixed bag of building and fading energy, all from the south-southeast, but there’s a heavy price to pay in terms of wind and conditions. The real standout, if you can wait for it, is shaping up for Wednesday the 15th and then again on Saturday the 18th.

The water temp is running about average for the time of year, nothing wild to report there.

We start this week with solid, powerful swell already pulsing. On Monday the 6th, Cowries is seeing 8ft of SSE swell, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is strong, registering 1321, but a moderate southerly breeze has it a bit bumpy. The surf is there, but it's not the cleanest. The same goes right through Tuesday the 7th where the swell builds to 10ft (3723 energy) coming from the SSE, swinging SE by the afternoon. That's a big, chunky wave, pushing into the zone where it's really only for experienced surfers. The wind stays cross-offshore, so the face is rideable, just not pristine.

Wednesday the 8th still has plenty of size at 8ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, with that energy staying high. By Thursday the 9th, we drop down to a much more manageable 6ft, and the energy drops to 770. The wind lightens up to a light breeze, and the afternoon even calls for a light breeze. This is where it starts to clean up. Friday the 10th is when we see a real shift. The swell hangs around 5ft, but the wind goes totally glassy in the afternoon. That’s clean, lined-up surf, though the energy is getting weaker at 439.

Saturday the 11th starts with glassy conditions and a small 4ft swell from the SE. It’s clean but small. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze and the wave size drops further. Then we hit a dry spell. From Sunday the 12th through to Tuesday the 14th, the swell goes flat, dropping below 3ft and with very low energy (143 and below). There are days of wind and small, poor waves – not worth paddling out for. This is a solid week of flat to tiny conditions.

Now, here’s the promise. Wednesday the 15th morning. Cowries gets a fresh 7ft groundswell from the south, with a long 11 second period. The wind goes light offshore. The energy jumps to 1010. This is the first proper call. It’s clean, it’s got push, and it’s coming from a good direction for this spot. That offshore wind will have the faces smooth. This is a standout window. The afternoon does get a bit messy again with a 19 mph cross-off, so aim for the morning.

Thursday the 16th brings even more swell, up to 10ft, but it’s crossed up and wind-affected. That’s for experts only, and even then, it’s a battle.

Friday the 17th sees it drop back to 7ft with steady wind. But the next real highlight is Saturday the 18th morning. The swell is 6ft from the SE, period 11 seconds, and the energy is 874. The wind is glassy again. Dead calm. That’s the other standout. If you can make it, Saturday morning looks like the cleanest, most fun session of the second week. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze, so it’s a short window.

The weekend after that (Sunday the 19th) and into Monday the 20th sees the swell fade rapidly back to tiny, weak surf. There’s a final note on the 21st of July: a massive 15ft south swell is predicted, which is simply too big for Cowries and only for the most experienced.

So, to sum it up: get on it this Thursday afternoon or Friday afternoon for some clean if small waves. But the two true standouts are Wednesday the 15th morning and Saturday the 18th morning. Those are your windows.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sun
12
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
3
3
3
4
3
3
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SE
11
3
SE
11
2.4
SE
10
2.3
SSE
11
1.9
SSE
10
1.8
SE
10
1.8
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.6
SE
10
1.4
SE
9
1.1
SE
9
0.9
ESE
11
0.8
ESE
10
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1526
1313
1207
1724
1904
2164
1800
1207
1199
687
566
519
430
393
428
339
194
173
131
61
88
Wind (km/h)
25
SSE
20
S
25
S
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
S
20
SW
20
S
15
SW
15
SSW
10
S
10
SW
10
SSW
0
S
10
W
5
NW
10
NNE
15
NW
25
WNW
25
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
11:40PM1.34m
12:45PM1.16m
00:27AM1.26m
1:35PM1.22m
1:24AM1.17m
2:29PM1.30m
2:31AM1.09m
3:26PM1.39m
3:46AM1.05m
4:24PM1.49m
5:01AM1.03m
5:22PM1.59m
6:10AM1.05m
6:18PM1.69m
Low Tide
6:22AM0.21m
6:27PM0.50m
7:03AM0.23m
7:33PM0.49m
7:49AM0.26m
8:46PM0.45m
8:41AM0.29m
10:01PM0.37m
9:39AM0.31m
11:11PM0.26m
10:39AM0.31m
00:15AM0.15m
11:39AM0.30m
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:00
 mm
2
2
2
1
1
4
1
1
Temp °C
13
14
13
13
13
14
14
15
15
12
14
14
13
14
14
12
17
16
13
13
12
Feels °C
7
9
8
9
9
10
10
11
11
8
11
12
11
13
13
10
15
13
10
7
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
S
20
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SE
10
3
SE
11
2.4
SE
10
2.1
SE
10
1.7
SSE
11
1.8
SE
10
1.8
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.6
SE
10
1.4
SE
9
1.1
SE
9
1
SE
8
0.8
ESE
10
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
11
Energy kJ
3
3
8
1360
1446
1800
1207
866
687
566
519
430
393
428
339
194
132
131
61
88
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
1
ESE
13
0.9
ESE
14
1.3
ESE
12
1.1
ESE
11
1
ESE
10
0.6
ESE
10
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
18
0.2
ESE
15
0.7
ESE
12
0.9
ESE
11
0.6
SE
9
0.5
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
Energy kJ
5
5
373
261
493
260
198
78
5
4
7
21
155
173
61
34
23
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
23
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
16
0.3
ESE
12
0.4
ESE
12
0.4
NE
4
Energy kJ
11
6
5
8
4
5
4
5
31
45
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SE
11
2.3
SSE
11
1.9
SSE
10
0.5
N
4
0.4
NNW
3
0.6
NW
3
Energy kJ
1526
1313
1207
1724
1904
2164
1199
683
7
3
9
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
2
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
Distance (km)
219
90
19
19
10
18
0
10
18
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
7
4
4
8
7
5
5
7
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
2
4
2
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
5
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
6
7
8
8
6
9
6
4
9
7
7
  • 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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