Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,650 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. For the next couple of weeks at Cowries, it’s mostly a whole lot of nothing, but there is one morning that’s going to make it all worthwhile.
Right out of the gate, Wednesday the 16th has a bit of south swell – around 3m at 10 seconds – but it’s cross-off, fresh breeze, and pretty average. The next day, Thursday the 17th, is similar, maybe a touch cleaner in the morning but still not great. The swell drops to 2.5m through the day, and by the afternoon, it’s gone mushy. From Friday the 18th through the weekend, it’s all downhill – small, weak, and chopped up. We’re talking knee-high slop with onshores. Not worth paddling out for.
The following week, the 23rd and 24th, sees a push of short-period easterly swell – up to 1.6m – but it’s messy, cross-onshore, and just ugly. The energy reading for that period is moderate, but the quality is terrible. After that, the 25th through the 30th is basically flat or tiny, with weak 0.5m to 0.9m waves and consistent onshores. It’s a long, frustrating stretch.
But then, mark your calendar for Thursday, October 1st. The morning session is the clear winner. We’ve got a 2m south swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is completely glassy – dead calm. This is the kind of clean, lined-up surf you wait weeks for. The combined energy is around 951, which is moderate, but the conditions are everything. This is likely the best and only truly good surf of the whole 16-day window.
That afternoon, the swell drops to 1.3m and a light cross-onshore sneaks in, so get your waves early. The water temp sits around 18°, which is about average for this time of year.
So, there you have it. A whole lot of nothing, except for that one crisp, clean Thursday morning. Be on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SSE by Mon morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSE 11 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | SSE 20 | SSE 18 | S 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | S 9 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1643 | 2364 | 1238 | 559 | 354 | 235 | 179 | 108 | 58 | 42 | 50 | 298 | 385 | 143 | 224 | 155 | 432 | 198 | 175 | 136 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on |
High Tide | 11:49PM0.98m | 12:04PM1.30m | 00:46AM0.90m | 12:59PM1.24m | 2:00AM0.85m | 2:06PM1.22m | 3:22AM0.85m | 3:16PM1.23m | 4:29AM0.90m | 4:17PM1.27m | 5:18AM0.97m | 5:07PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:58PM0.37m | 5:25AM0.47m | 6:58PM0.43m | 6:10AM0.54m | 8:09PM0.47m | 7:10AM0.59m | 9:24PM0.46m | 8:27AM0.61m | 10:27PM0.42m | 9:41AM0.58m | 11:15PM0.36m | 10:42AM0.52m | 11:53PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — |
 | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 27 | 26 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 |
Feels °C | 6 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | E 13 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 4 | S 8 | SSE 18 | S 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 979 | 559 | 354 | 235 | 179 | 108 | 58 | 42 | 10 | 136 | 385 | 143 | 224 | 155 | 14 | 198 | 175 | 136 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | S 18 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SE 7 | S 10 | SSE 20 | S 7 | SSE 18 | NE 4 | NE 4 | S 17 | S 20 | SSE 19 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 38 | 94 | 48 | 2 | 50 | 298 | 39 | 107 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 68 | 34 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 19 | S 19 | S 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 18 | S 18 | E 11 | S 11 | NE 4 | E 11 | E 11 | — | S 19 | E 11 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 59 | 12 | 5 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 64 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 66 | 2 | 23 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSE 11 | S 9 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | W 2 | WSW 3 | WSW 2 | — | NNW 2 | ENE 4 | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 1643 | 2364 | 1238 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 12 | — | — | 155 | 432 | 117 | 71 | 80 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 632 | 10 | 8 | 69 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 299 | 57 | 0 | 10 | 95 |
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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