
Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with 1,600 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period with SSE 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there is some fun stuff brewing. The first decent window doesn’t really open up until Thursday the 3rd of September, but even then, it’s pretty marginal. We’re looking at a small south swell at Cowries, coming in at just 2ft with 10-second periods and a light west offshore breeze. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is basically normal for this time of year. Not much juice there with the combined energy only reading 83, but it’s clean and there’s a wave to be had if you’re desperate.
Friday morning the 4th is a bit more promising. Swell bumps up to 4ft from the south, still 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy with a light west offshore. The energy jumps to 232, feeling more like a real wave. That’s your best bet early on. Friday afternoon goes to crap, so don’t bother then.
The weekend is a write-off, with poor conditions and small, choppy wind swell. Skip Saturday and Sunday morning.
Then we get to Monday the 8th of September. This is the standout. Tuesday morning is looking proper. Cowries will see a solid 7ft south swell (period 8 seconds) with a light south cross-off breeze. The combined energy is cranking at 1027, that’s moderate to strong energy. It’s going to be clean and punchy. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It might be a bit much for beginners at that size, but for everyone else, it’s game on.
Later that week, things get weird. Wednesday the 9th is howling with 19 mph south winds, so even though it’s cross-off and clean-looking on paper, the wind is just too strong for good paddle surfing. That setup starts to look more like kite-surfing territory than a fun day out on a log.
Thursday morning the 10th has another solid push, 8ft from the south with a 10-second period, and moderate south-southwest cross-off breeze. The energy is enormous at 3111, indicating strong swell. But the forecast flags it as marginal due to tide or conditions. It’ll be big and possibly unruly for the average punter, but if you’re an expert, that could be a wild session.
From Thursday afternoon onward through the second week, it’s mostly poor or marginal. The swell drops, winds turn onshore, and it gets choppy. Friday the 11th has a lingering 6ft south-southeast swell with 11-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and not ideal. The 11-second period means longer, more powerful lines, but the poor wind ratings kill it.
The tail end of the 16-day window sees a couple of small, clean windows on the 16th of September with a 2ft south swell and a solid west offshore at 12 mph, but it’s so small it’s barely worth paddling out for.
So, to sum it up: the one true standout is Tuesday morning, the 8th of September at Cowries – 7ft south swell, clean, moderate energy, and light winds. That’s your session. The rest is a mix of small, windy, or marginal conditions with no other real highlights.
Stay frothy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 11 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
32 | 175 | 55 | 56 | 58 | 43 | 37 | 24 | 229 | 324 | 205 | 149 | 450 | 727 | 208 | 140 | 95 | 302 | 1386 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:58AM1.01m | 1:27PM1.40m | 2:21AM0.95m | 2:40PM1.41m | 3:47AM0.95m | 3:54PM1.46m | 5:00AM1.00m | 4:59PM1.53m | 5:58AM1.09m | 5:56PM1.59m | 6:46AM1.18m | 6:46PM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:42AM0.40m | 8:26PM0.34m | 7:51AM0.46m | 9:47PM0.29m | 9:09AM0.47m | 10:57PM0.22m | 10:24AM0.42m | 11:54PM0.14m | 11:28AM0.35m | 00:42AM0.07m | 12:24PM0.28m | 1:24AM0.04m | |||||||
— | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 29 | 28 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 25 | 24 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | NE 6 | NE 7 | S 6 | S 11 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 9 | SSE 9 |
32 | 175 | 55 | 26 | 58 | 34 | 37 | 19 | 229 | 324 | 205 | 149 | 9 | 603 | 208 | 140 | 95 | 8 | 980 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 10 | NE 5 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | E 10 | SE 11 | N 6 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 9 | E 16 | ENE 9 |
32 | 20 | 9 | 56 | 7 | 43 | 28 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 55 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 75 | 78 | 5 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | S 9 | E 11 | E 10 | NE 6 | E 10 | E 8 | N 10 | — | E 10 | ENE 9 | S 17 | E 16 |
16 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | — | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | W 3 | — | N 3 | NNW 2 | NW 2 | WSW 3 | W 3 | SE 3 | — | — | NE 3 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SE 9 | — | SSW 3 | SSE 7 | S 9 |
7 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 450 | 727 | 107 | — | 4 | 302 | 1386 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 651 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 57 | 9 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 146 |
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.










