
Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, ENE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, ENE swell with 561 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with E 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 (Jul 17) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next stretch. We are focusing on Cowries, a reef and point set up that’s fairly exposed to swell and works best when the groundswell is coming from the ENE.
The story starts slow, but there’s a real standout coming. The first few days are pretty grim. Thursday and Friday, 16th and 17th of July, are write-offs. We’ve got small, short-period windswell and cross-off breezes that just aren't putting anything decent together – the combined energy is down around 21 to 395, which is weak to moderate but the quality just isn’t there.
Saturday the 18th stays ordinary, with a tiny bump of easterly swell but cross-shore winds keeping things messy. Then we hit the good stuff. Sunday the 19th of July is the one to circle. That morning the swell pushes up to 5 ft from the ENE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy hits 673 – that’s proper moderate to strong energy. The wind goes glassy in the afternoon with a light ESE breeze, so you’re looking at clean, lined-up waves. This is a beginner-friendly break, and with that size and direction, it’s going to be fun for everyone. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
Monday the 20th is a step down with cross-shore wind and a drop in quality. But Tuesday the 21st of July morning pulls a surprise: dead calm, glassy conditions, and a solid 4 ft of long-period ENE swell (10 seconds). Combined energy is 322 – moderate – and with no wind, it’ll be smooth. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so expect company if it’s looking that clean.
After that, the surf fades into the background. Wednesday the 22nd through Friday the 24th serve up small, waist-high waves with light winds, but nothing special – just ordinary conditions. By the 25th, a new southerly windswell tries to build, but the winds are strong and cross-off, so it’s messy and marginal, not worth paddling out for.
The last week, from the 26th of July right through to the 31st, is a stretch of tiny, poor surf. There are days with glassy conditions but the swell is barely a ripple – 0.7 ft to 2 ft – and the energy never gets above 113. The one oddity is a long-period swell (14 to 17 seconds) from the SSE on the 28th and 29th, but it’s tiny and cross-onshore winds trash it. For a beginner spot like Cowries, that kind of period on a beach/reef mix can make waves break too straight, so it’s no loss.
So, the pick of the lot: Sunday the 19th of July is the true standout with clean, chest-high surf and glassy conditions. Tuesday the 21st morning is a close second if you want it even cleaner but a touch smaller. After that, the surf goes quiet for nearly a week, so make the most of those two days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | S 19 | E 5 | S 10 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
273 | 336 | 200 | 7 | 14 | 51 | 66 | 104 | 400 | 561 | 424 | 416 | 363 | 363 | 307 | 258 | 214 | 223 | 186 | 140 | 109 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:44PM1.73m | 10:37AM1.20m | 10:32PM1.62m | 11:25AM1.22m | 11:20PM1.47m | 12:13PM1.24m | 00:08AM1.30m | 1:02PM1.25m | 00:59AM1.14m | 1:53PM1.26m | 1:56AM1.01m | 2:47PM1.27m | 3:03AM0.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:18PM0.25m | 4:31AM-0.02m | 4:11PM0.29m | 5:14AM0.05m | 5:06PM0.34m | 5:55AM0.13m | 6:04PM0.40m | 6:35AM0.23m | 7:07PM0.46m | 7:16AM0.32m | 8:16PM0.49m | 7:58AM0.40m | 9:29PM0.49m | ||||||||
7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 18 | SSE 19 | E 8 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
6 | 25 | 34 | 5 | 14 | 51 | 66 | 104 | 400 | 561 | 424 | 416 | 363 | 363 | 307 | 258 | 214 | 223 | 186 | 140 | 109 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 15 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
2 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 49 | 46 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 126 | 108 | 103 | 96 | 57 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 11 | — | S 19 | E 8 | S 21 | SSE 21 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 16 | SE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 |
— | 2 | — | 7 | 10 | 9 | 42 | 37 | 62 | 57 | 44 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | W 2 |
273 | 336 | 200 | 126 | 58 | 11 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 194 | 9 | 80 | 64 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 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.










