Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off with a pretty slow start at Cowries, a reef and point break that’s fairly exposed. The water temp is sitting at 65°, about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there. The first few days are a real write-off, with small, weak energy and cross-onshore winds messing things up. Monday the 14th has tiny 2ft swell from the south, but a cross-on breeze makes it look pretty ordinary. Tuesday the 15th is cleaner but still small, with a 2ft NE swell early – surfable, but not something you’d rush out for. The combined energy is weak (67) so it’s just a dribble.

The first real standout arrives on Thursday morning, September 17th. Now we’re talking. A solid 8ft swell from the SSE, period of 10 seconds, and clean conditions with a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy jumps to 930 (moderate to strong). This is the best session of the whole outlook. That SSE direction lines up nicely with what Cowries likes, and the winds will groom it. Crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so if you can get out early, you might have it to yourself. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

Wednesday the 16th is worth a mention but it’s a tricky one – a big 10ft S swell rolls in, with a 10-second period and strong energy (1706). But the wind is a stiff 19 mph cross-off, and with that much size, it’s really only for the experienced crew. That’s a big, powerful ocean, and it might be a bit too much for the average punter.

After the Thursday high, things fade pretty quickly. Friday the 18th has some 4ft SSE swell but onshore winds ruin it. Saturday the 19th morning goes glassy with a tiny 2ft S swell – clean, but barely a ripple. The combined energy is only 129. Then we hit a long, frustrating run of poor conditions. From the 20th through to the 25th, it’s mostly small, choppy, and cross-on. There’s a blip on Monday the 21st afternoon with 7ft SSE swell but the wind is light cross-onshore, and the score doesn’t back it up as a real session.

Into the second week, things look pretty flat and messy overall. A few pulses of 5ft to 6ft swell show up around the 22nd and 24th, but the wind is never your mate, and the energy stays moderate. Late in the period, around the 28th and 29th, we see 5ft to 6ft swells from the NE and ENE, but it’s cross-shore wind and not clean. There’s no real standout out there. The long-range stuff is too uncertain and the conditions don’t line up.

So, if you’re after a wave, the main event is Thursday morning, September 17th. That’s your pick. The rest of the window is mostly a waiting game.

Rusty.

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