Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s comin’ down the line for the local reefs.

We’re lookin’ at a bit of a slow start, but there’s a solid window of surf on the horizon. The first real action kicks off on Tuesday, 8th September, with a pulse of short-period swell from the SSE. It’s not the cleanest start, but we’ll take what we can get.

Tuesday morning sees a 7ft SSE swell with a period of 8 seconds and a cross-off wind from the S at 12 mph. The water’s sittin’ at 64°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at 577, and the conditions are clean. It’s a bit of a messy, marginal affair though, so keep expectations in check. By Tuesday afternoon, the wind swings to the ESE and lightens up, but it goes cross-on, making things a bit choppy.

Wednesday the 9th blows up a bit. The morning drops to a tiny 3ft from the S, but the afternoon sees a jump to 8ft from the S with a gusty 22 mph S wind. It’s a cross-off wind, so it looks clean, but the energy is ramped up to 907. That’s a lot of power for a short period swell, and at 8ft it’s gettin’ into expert territory. This is a kite-surfing setup for sure.

Now, Thursday the 10th is where it gets interesting. The swell holds at 8ft to 8ft from the SSE, but the period stretches to 10 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The energy jumps to 1219 and 1315, strong to very strong. Winds are cross-off from the SSW and S, keeping it clean. This is the standout of the first week. The waves are solid, powerful, and clean. Cowries is a reef and point setup, so that long period will wrap in nicely. It’s a big swell though, so this is for experienced surfers only. Crowds are possible, so get in early.

Friday the 11th is still solid. The swell eases to 6ft from the SSE, period 9 seconds, with a gentle S breeze at 9 mph. The energy is 596, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is a more manageable size and still clean. This is the best bet for a solid session without the full-on power of Thursday. The afternoon gets a bit cross-on, so the morning is the call.

Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are a write-off. Swell drops to 4ft and then 2ft, with periods dropping and wind going onshore or cross-on. The energy drops to 390 and then 112. Poor surf conditions across the board.

Monday the 14th is a bit of a weird one. A small 2ft swell from the S arrives with a 12-second period. The energy is 164 and it’s clean with a light NW wind. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The period is long for that size, so there will be long waits between sets.

Tuesday the 15th is a total mess. Cross-shore winds and a 6ft short-period swell from the SSE with a 7-second period. The energy is 413, but it’s a choppy, poor-quality mess. Not worth paddling out.

Now, here’s the real standout for the second week. Wednesday the 16th September. The morning brings a 5ft SSE swell with a 13-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is 859, strong. The wind is a gentle S breeze at 9 mph, cross-off, making it clean. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the one. A beautiful, long-period groundswell with clean conditions. At 5ft, it’s a perfect size for a point break like Cowries. The long period means it will push in with plenty of power. This is a low crowd risk, but it’s a gem. The afternoon goes a bit cross-on, so make the morning session.

From Thursday the 17th onward, it gets messy again. A mix of small swells from the NE, short periods, and onshore winds. Friday the 18th offers a tiny 2ft NE swell with a 7-second period and offshore winds, but it’s not enough to get excited about. The energy is only 97. The rest of the period through the 23rd is mostly poor, with small, short-period swells and onshore winds. The 22nd shows a 6ft NE swell, but it’s onshore and short period, so it’s a mess.

So, overall: the first week is a bust until the Thursday and Friday pulse, and the real gem is that Wednesday the 16th. Get out there early that day.

Rusty.

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