Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
18.0° C
0.7° 

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


Cowries surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, NE swell with 287 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Mon 3rd Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf 7PM (Mon 3rd Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Sat 8th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here.

Alright, straight talk: Cowries is looking pretty quiet for the first week. Very little to work with early on, but there’s a late pulse of big energy that’ll get the blood pumping.

Water temp is 64°, pretty normal for this time of year.

Monday 3rd August serves up 3ft swell from the SE with a 10-second period. Cross-off NW wind at 9 mph keeps it clean, but the energy is weak (198). Barely surfable. Afternoon drops to 2ft – still clean, still ordinary.

Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th are total duds – 0.7ft to 1ft, offshore winds, no power. Energy numbers in the teens and twenties. Wednesday afternoon goes glassy flat.

Thursday 6th sees a tiny bump to 2ft from the S, cross-off in the morning, but the period is short (8 seconds). Energy is weak (69 to 102). Onshore wind ruins the afternoon.

Friday 7th and Saturday 8th stay small and messy – max 3ft, bumpy winds.

Sunday 9th brings cloud and light rain, a 3ft NE swell with a short 7-second period – rough.

Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th offer clean but tiny waves – 2ft to 3ft, nothing special.

Now, the one to watch: Thursday 13th August afternoon. Swell jumps to 6ft from the S, short period, but the energy hits 423 – moderate. Light cross breeze from the SE at 9 mph. It’ll be raw but this reef and point break will start to work.

The real standout is Friday 14th August morning. We’re talking 8ft of S swell with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 1779 – very strong. Light cross wind from the N at 6 mph keeps it clean. This is expert territory – over 8ft gets serious. The reef and point setup at Cowries will be handling that energy well for those who can handle it. This is the day.

Saturday 15th August morning holds strong at 5ft S swell with offshore WSW wind at 12 mph – clean and punchy (334). Still good for competent surfers.

Then it fades through Sunday and into the next week. By Tuesday 18th morning, we’re back to small, glassy 3ft S swell – clean but weak (151).

Bottom line: a long flat spell, then a big Friday 14th for the experts, with Saturday 15th a solid follow-up. Don’t bother with the early tiny days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SE
10
0.7
SE
10
0.6
SE
10
0.3
SE
10
0.2
SSE
10
0.2
SSE
11
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
9
0.7
S
8
0.7
S
8
0.7
S
7
0.7
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.6
S
8
1.3
ENE
7
0.9
NE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
180
102
69
16
10
12
18
15
54
60
53
81
103
101
47
50
49
159
69
79
72
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
10
NW
10
WNW
15
W
20
W
25
WSW
15
WSW
5
WNW
15
W
5
WNW
10
ENE
15
W
10
S
15
SSE
5
ENE
10
NNE
25
NE
15
NNW
15
NNW
25
NNW
30
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
glassy
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
off
High Tide
11:19AM1.25m
11:14PM1.30m
12:04PM1.29m
00:03AM1.20m
12:54PM1.32m
1:03AM1.09m
1:52PM1.36m
2:17AM1.00m
2:58PM1.41m
3:40AM0.97m
4:05PM1.48m
4:59AM0.98m
5:09PM1.57m
Low Tide
5:12PM0.39m
5:39AM0.21m
6:08PM0.41m
6:20AM0.26m
7:14PM0.42m
7:09AM0.32m
8:31PM0.40m
8:08AM0.37m
9:51PM0.34m
9:16AM0.40m
11:05PM0.25m
10:26AM0.38m
00:08AM0.14m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:47
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:20
5:20
 mm
1
Temp °C
21
22
13
17
17
11
16
16
11
16
16
11
15
15
14
16
16
13
17
17
12
Feels °C
17
19
9
11
11
4
14
13
5
13
12
7
12
12
12
12
11
10
12
12
5
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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