Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, E swell with 192 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s 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 1.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming down the line for Cowries.
Overall, this is a lean spell. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing worthwhile kicking things off. The first couple of weeks are mostly flat or just ugly. The real interest, and I mean the *only* real interest, pops up right at the very end of the month and into the start of September. If you're keen, you’ve gotta wait.
From the 17th right through to the morning of the 24th of August, it's pretty much a write-off. Small, weak swell, messy winds, and most of the time the wave comment just says "poor surf conditions." You’ll see a few brief moments of glassy conditions on the morning of the 18th, but with a tiny 2.9 ft swell from the ESE at a short 6-second period, it’s barely a ripple. Not worth paddling out. The light offshore winds on the 21st, 22nd, and 24th mornings are teasing, but again, the swell is too small and weak to do anything with.
Tuesday, August 25th morning is the standout, and it's the only real highlight in the whole outlook. Cowries wakes up. The combined swell energy jumps hard to 425 (strong energy), with a clean 4.6 ft swell from the SSE at 8 seconds. But the key here is the wind: a light 3 mph southerly breeze, described as cross-offshore. That’s going to mean clean, workable faces. It’s a beginner-friendly height, and with that period, it won’t be too dumpy. This is the session to point your board at.
The rest of the outlook fades again. Wednesday and Thursday the 26th and 27th see solid energy (350 and 416), but with howling 25 mph offshore winds from the west, it’s going to be blown out and hard to paddle into. Not good. The end of the month and the 1st of September serve up more small, weak surf with light cross-offshore winds, but nothing with enough push to get excited about.
So, if you’re hanging for a wave, your window is that Tuesday morning, August 25th. Everything else is a waiting game.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | S 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | S 11 | ESE 14 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 122 | 81 | 78 | 68 | 57 | 61 | 102 | 82 | 192 | 53 | 51 | 50 | 29 | 31 | 49 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 10:48PM1.35m | 11:25AM1.33m | 11:33PM1.19m | 12:09PM1.31m | 00:20AM1.05m | 12:57PM1.28m | 1:17AM0.93m | 1:52PM1.25m | 2:28AM0.86m | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:49AM0.84m | 3:59PM1.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:05AM0.20m | 5:35PM0.35m | 5:40AM0.30m | 6:32PM0.42m | 6:17AM0.40m | 7:36PM0.47m | 7:00AM0.48m | 8:51PM0.49m | 7:55AM0.53m | 10:06PM0.48m | 9:02AM0.56m | 11:09PM0.43m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | ESE 6 | S 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 10 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 122 | 75 | 55 | 68 | 57 | 51 | 58 | 59 | 192 | 43 | 51 | 50 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | S 9 | S 12 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | S 8 | ESE 9 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 7 | — | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | 10 | 81 | 27 | 35 | 55 | 35 | 102 | 82 | 11 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 14 | S 10 | S 8 | — | S 8 | — | S 13 | E 10 | SE 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 4 | S 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 29 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 61 | 29 | 12 | — | 4 | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | — | ESE 6 | — | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | — | — | NNW 2 | NNW 2 | ENE 6 | NW 3 | — | ENE 6 | W 2 | — | ESE 2 | — |
| kJ | 61 | — | 78 | — | 26 | 17 | 12 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 43 | 2 | — | 49 | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 228 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 375 | 289 | 299 | 251 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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