Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
18.0° C
0.8° 

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


Cowries surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with 388 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 23rd Aug)2ft (0.6m) 11s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 11s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Honestly, the next two weeks for Cowries are a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy, and mostly onshore waves, so you’ll need to be patient. The best of what’s on offer is pretty ordinary, but there are a couple of windows where the conditions might just line up for a fun session.

The first real chance comes on Thursday morning, 27 August. The swell is only 3 feet from the ENE with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 153. But the wind is glassy, absolutely dead calm, and the water is a warm 64° – about average for the time of year. It’s a beginner-friendly reef and point, but the waves are small and inconsistent, so don’t expect much. It’s a morning for a longboard or a foamie.

Another slim window appears on Tuesday morning, 1 September. The swell is similar at 3 feet from the S, with a period of 11 seconds and a combined energy of 217. The wind is light and cross-offshore, keeping things clean. Again, it’s surfable but very ordinary. The longer period means the lines will be cleaner, but the size is tiny.

The only other standout is Saturday morning, 5 September, but it’s a week and a half out, so keep that in mind. The forecast shows a 2 foot S swell with an 11-second period, and the wind is offshore from the W at 19 mph. The combined energy is 197. That offshore wind is the big positive, but the swell is tiny. For a reef and point setup, that long period and clean wind could make for some fun, peelers, even if small.

The rest of the days are filled with poor conditions or onshore slop. The 31st of August has a long-period 17-second swell from the SSE, but it’s cross-on and messy, so not worth the paddle. The energy is there (346), but without the wind, it’s a no-go.

Overall, it’s a quiet period. If you’re desperate, the Thursday morning glass-off or the offshore Saturday in the second week are your best bets. Otherwise, wait for the next system.

Stay patient, and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NE
6
0.3
NE
6
0.3
NE
6
0.6
S
11
1.1
S
8
0.8
S
11
0.9
S
10
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.9
ENE
6
0.5
S
9
0.9
ENE
6
1.1
ENE
7
1.2
ENE
8
1.1
NE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
1
ENE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
18
6
6
85
161
166
161
94
70
69
39
67
117
166
143
95
103
103
141
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
15
WSW
10
SE
0
NNE
10
NNE
25
NNE
15
NNW
10
NNE
20
NE
5
WNW
15
N
15
N
10
NNW
10
SW
20
SSW
15
SW
10
S
5
ESE
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
3:49AM0.84m
3:59PM1.27m
4:58AM0.87m
4:56PM1.32m
5:50AM0.92m
5:44PM1.38m
6:32AM0.98m
6:26PM1.44m
7:08AM1.05m
7:04PM1.49m
7:43AM1.13m
7:41PM1.52m
Low Tide
10:06PM0.48m
9:02AM0.56m
11:09PM0.43m
10:09AM0.54m
11:58PM0.37m
11:07AM0.50m
00:38AM0.30m
11:55AM0.44m
1:12AM0.24m
12:39PM0.38m
1:45AM0.18m
1:20PM0.33m
2:16AM0.14m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:24
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:32
 mm
4
7
1
1
Temp °C
15
19
17
14
17
17
14
21
19
16
20
17
15
16
15
14
17
16
14
Feels °C
11
17
14
13
13
12
11
17
15
15
17
16
13
15
12
11
15
15
13
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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