Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, S swell with 269 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at the charts for Cowries.
First off, I gotta be straight with you: the next week and a half is pretty grim. There's a big, frustrating gap of poor conditions stretching from now, through the middle of next week. Don't get your hopes up for anything decent until we're well past the 22nd of August.
There's a tiny window on the morning of Thursday the 14th where things go glassy, but with a tiny 4ft S swell and only 8 seconds of period, it's looking super weak and ordinary. Not worth paddling out for. After that, it's a whole lot of poor surf, onshore winds, and chop. Nothing to see here.
The real story, and the one true standout for this whole stretch, is the final few days. The surf finally wakes up around the 24th of August. We get a proper pulse of S swell pushing 5ft, and with a light offshore wind from the west, the morning of Monday the 24th is clean and has moderate wave energy kicking around (532). That's a good sign.
But the absolute gold is sitting right at the end of the forecast. On the morning of Thursday the 27th of August, we've got a solid 7ft S swell pumping in, with an 8-second period, and the wind is offshore from the west. The wave energy is strong at 1081, and it's looking very good. The next day, Friday the 28th of August, is the absolute peak. The morning brings a 8ft S swell, a 9-second period, and gentle offshore wind from the WSW. The afternoon goes glassy with a 7ft S swell. The energy readings are huge—1472 and 1549—this is excellent, powerful surf. Now, at that size (over 7ft), this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The swell direction from the south is a good match for the optimum direction for this reef and point setup, and with that offshore wind, it's going to be clean and heavy. If you've got the skill, that Friday the 28th of August is your session.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | S 9 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 6 | S 11 | S 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 145 | 86 | 225 | 238 | 231 | 84 | 183 | 136 | 158 | 90 | 56 | 107 | 56 | 35 | 68 | 113 | 78 | 96 | 79 | 62 | 61 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:22PM1.63m | 10:02AM1.31m | 10:05PM1.50m | 10:43AM1.33m | 10:48PM1.35m | 11:25AM1.33m | 11:33PM1.19m | 12:09PM1.31m | 00:20AM1.05m | 12:57PM1.28m | 1:17AM0.93m | 1:52PM1.25m | 2:28AM0.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:04PM0.21m | 3:54AM0.03m | 3:53PM0.23m | 4:30AM0.11m | 4:43PM0.29m | 5:05AM0.20m | 5:35PM0.35m | 5:40AM0.30m | 6:32PM0.42m | 6:17AM0.40m | 7:36PM0.47m | 7:00AM0.48m | 8:51PM0.49m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 18 | S 6 | SSE 18 | S 11 | ESE 6 | S 9 | E 6 | S 8 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 |
| kJ | 145 | 86 | 135 | 17 | 65 | 84 | 61 | 86 | 72 | 87 | 50 | 32 | 47 | 32 | 68 | 113 | 78 | 96 | 79 | 62 | 61 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SSE 19 | ENE 9 | S 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | S 9 | ENE 10 | E 6 | E 6 | S 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | — | — | NE 9 | NE 9 |
| kJ | 18 | 18 | 17 | 37 | 17 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 158 | 36 | 56 | 10 | 26 | 24 | 29 | 18 | 26 | — | — | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 8 | SSE 18 | ENE 10 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | ENE 10 | SE 7 | ESE 10 | S 11 | S 11 | ESE 11 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 29 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 61 | 20 | 31 | 29 | 10 | 38 | 11 | 56 | 35 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 9 | S 7 | S 7 | — | SE 7 | SE 6 | — | ESE 6 | — | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NNW 2 |
| kJ | — | — | 225 | 238 | 231 | — | 183 | 136 | — | 90 | — | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 67 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 219 | 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.
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