
Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, ENE swell with 304 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 1.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at the 16-day picture for Cowries. This is a reef and point break that’s fairly consistent and works best with swell out of the ENE. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but crowds are possible here.
Right now, the water is sitting at 65° — that’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not need a thick wetsuit.
The first week is pretty quiet. We’ve got a few days of tiny, weak swell with very low energy readings (16 to 28 units) and poor conditions. Honestly, not much to get excited about. Thursday the 6th morning sees a small bump to 3 feet from the south with 8-second period, but the energy is still weak (99 units) and the wind is light offshore, so it’s clean but very ordinary. Friday the 7th morning is similar — 2 feet south swell, glassy start, but tiny and weak.
Saturday the 8th morning is glassy with 2 feet of SSE swell, but again, it’s tiny. Sunday the 9th is a write-off with messy wind and a 5-second period.
Monday the 10th is where things start to change. The morning brings a 5 feet ENE swell with 9-second period and moderate energy (309 units), and the wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is the first real standout of the outlook — the swell direction matches the optimum ENE, and the size is fun for intermediates. The afternoon stays clean with 4 feet. A solid choice for a session.
Tuesday the 11th is smaller but still clean with cross-offshore winds. Wednesday the 12th gets a fresh offshore blast from the WSW at 22 mph, with 4 feet SSW swell and 216 units of energy — clean but a bit bumpy with that wind.
Then there’s a gap of a few days with nothing special until Thursday the 14th. That morning is the best of the whole outlook. We’ve got glassy conditions, 5 feet south swell with 11-second period, and strong energy (557 units). That’s a proper groundswell with good shape and power — perfect for a reef and point like Cowries. The long period means longer waits between sets, but the waves will be well-formed. This is the standout session.
Friday the 15th morning is glassy again but with only 1 feet of SSE swell — very long period at 23 seconds, but tiny. Still, if you’re into a clean, mellow log session, it’s an option.
After that, the second week fades back into small, weak surf with mostly cross-onshore winds. Nothing to carve out a trip for.
So overall, the best bet is Thursday the 14th morning for the best combination of size, power, and glassy conditions. Monday the 10th is a solid second pick with clean, fun-sized waves from the optimal direction.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 8 | NE 5 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 15 | 31 | 90 | 127 | 76 | 68 | 58 | 47 | 45 | 40 | 38 | 32 | 33 | 273 | 304 | 211 | 108 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:06AM1.03m | 6:08PM1.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:31AM0.34m | 1:02AM0.05m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | S 5 | S 5 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 14 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
10 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 15 | 31 | 90 | 127 | 76 | 68 | 55 | 47 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 32 | 31 | 4 | 304 | 211 | 108 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | SSE 10 | ESE 8 | E 7 | S 10 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 9 | S 7 | E 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 9 | SE 13 | — |
5 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 61 | 58 | 31 | 45 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | ESE 7 | SE 11 | SE 12 | S 4 | S 5 | E 12 | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 6 | E 14 | ENE 10 | SE 10 | S 13 | — | SE 12 |
1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | — | WSW 3 | W 3 | — | W 2 | W 3 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | NNE 2 | NE 5 | NE 7 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 2 |
6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 33 | 273 | 8 | 5 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 99 | 203 | 99 | 36 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 0 | 24 | 123 | 24 | 3 | 29 | 3 |
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.











