Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,684 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with NE 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 (Sep 14) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 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 cookin' for Cowries.
Right now, things are pretty flat and messy. We’ve got a run of poor surf with small, short-period swell and onshore wind. The water temp is sitting at about 64°, which is average for this time of year, nothing wild there.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday morning, the 15th. We're looking at a small 2ft swell from the NE, but the wind swings cross-offshore from the SSW, cleaning things right up. It's tiny, weak energy (67), but it's surfable and clean for the dawn patrol if you're desperate for a paddle.
Now, Wednesday the 16th is where it gets a bit heavy. A solid 10ft to 12ft S swell rolls in, with very strong energy (1400-2134). The wind stays cross-off, so the face will be clean. But let's be real – this is a reef and point break, and over 8ft, this is expert territory only. For most of us, it's gonna be too big and gnarly. The afternoon session on the 16th actually has a good score for wind and tide, but the size is the limiting factor.
The best of the whole forecast window, no question, is Monday the 28th. The morning is the standout. We get a 7ft S groundswell with a long 11-second period, packing strong energy (1158). The wind is light and offshore from the south, meaning glassy, clean conditions. This is a proper groundswell, so the energy and shape will be excellent, especially for a reef and point like Cowries. The longer period means better shaped waves, though sets will be a bit more spaced. This is the one to circle on your calendar. Just be aware that crowds are sometimes a thing here, so get in early.
The rest of the period is a mixed bag of onshore slop, very small surf, or conditions that are too big for the break. There's a decent looking morning on the 26th with 5ft from the ENE and glassy conditions, which would be clean, but it's not quite as powerful as the 28th.
So, to sum it up: the next week or so is mostly a write-off. Tuesday morning the 15th for a tiny, clean paddle, and then brace for a big, expert-only swell mid-week. But keep your eyes locked on Monday the 28th. That's the real deal – a solid, clean groundswell at a classic point. That's your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sun night, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed morning, light winds from the NE by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 10 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 141 | 100 | 149 | 85 | 56 | 56 | 49 | 38 | 1172 | 1394 | 2124 | 2250 | 1891 | 792 | 414 | 239 | 173 | 130 | 85 | 55 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:39PM1.34m | 10:00AM1.43m | 10:19PM1.21m | 10:38AM1.40m | 11:02PM1.09m | 11:18AM1.36m | 11:49PM0.98m | 12:04PM1.30m | 00:46AM0.90m | 12:59PM1.24m | 2:00AM0.85m | 2:06PM1.22m | 3:22AM0.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:34PM0.19m | 3:43AM0.21m | 4:19PM0.24m | 4:15AM0.29m | 5:06PM0.30m | 4:48AM0.38m | 5:58PM0.37m | 5:25AM0.47m | 6:58PM0.43m | 6:10AM0.54m | 8:09PM0.47m | 7:10AM0.59m | 9:24PM0.46m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 17 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 26 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 23 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 12 | ENE 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 141 | 100 | 71 | 55 | 56 | 56 | 49 | 38 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 1314 | 792 | 414 | 239 | 173 | 130 | 85 | 55 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | ENE 13 | S 10 | S 11 | ENE 13 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | E 14 | E 14 | E 15 | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 12 | 17 | 104 | 85 | 17 | 31 | 15 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 72 | 66 | 104 | 56 | 37 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | — | E 13 | E 13 | S 15 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | S 16 | — | — | — | — | NE 13 | — | E 13 | ESE 10 | SSE 16 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 26 | — | 13 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 3 | 20 | 89 | 58 | 54 | 23 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | NE 6 | — | WSW 3 | SE 3 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | NE 3 | WNW 2 | — | ENE 3 | — |
| kJ | 31 | 45 | 149 | — | 38 | — | 1 | 11 | 1172 | 1394 | 2124 | 2250 | 1891 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 73 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 0 | 832 | 632 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 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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