Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, SSE swell with 463 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with NE 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 (Aug 26) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down Cowries for the next couple of weeks.
Monday the 24th is a total dud with a tiny 2ft S swell, cross-on wind, and chop. Not worth a look. Tuesday the 25th is still poor with a 3ft swell from the ENE and a short period, plus cross-shore wind. Wednesday the 26th cleans up but the waves are still poor quality, even with a 5ft S swell and cross-off wind.
Thursday the 27th morning is the first real green light. A clean 5ft S swell with a 8-second period, near glassy conditions, and moderate energy. That’s the best of the first week. Crowds are possible, so go early.
Friday the 28th is ordinary, then Saturday the 29th morning is the standout. A clean 6ft SSE swell with a 9-second period, and the wave energy is strong. The wind is a slight air, cross-off – glassy. This is the session to plan for. Water temp is about 60°, normal for the season.
After that, it drops off fast. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are tiny and weak. The first week of September has a few clean but small pulses, like Thursday the 3rd morning with a clean 4ft S swell, but the afternoon gets blown out by 25 km/h wind.
The second week offers a nice window on Saturday the 5th of September morning: glassy conditions, a 3ft SSE swell with an 11-second period, and good energy. That’s a longer period groundswell that will work well at this reef and point. Crowds are likely.
From Sunday the 6th onward, it’s mostly flat and weak, with energy dropping to almost nothing. The last few days are a total bust.
Bottom line: Saturday the 29th of August morning is the clear winner. Saturday the 5th of September morning is a good backup for a glassy, longer-period wave. The rest is mostly a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 6 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 67 | 230 | 74 | 292 | 155 | 88 | 161 | 333 | 302 | 186 | 194 | 154 | 269 | 168 | 463 | 170 | 106 | 79 | 47 | 33 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 5:44PM1.38m | 6:32AM0.98m | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:08AM1.05m | 7:04PM1.49m | 7:43AM1.13m | 7:41PM1.52m | 8:17AM1.20m | 8:17PM1.52m | 8:51AM1.27m | 8:53PM1.49m | 9:26AM1.33m | 9:31PM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:38AM0.30m | 11:55AM0.44m | 1:12AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.38m | 1:45AM0.18m | 1:20PM0.33m | 2:16AM0.14m | 2:00PM0.29m | 2:46AM0.12m | 2:41PM0.26m | 3:17AM0.12m | 3:23PM0.25m | 3:49AM0.14m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 67 | 100 | 74 | 147 | 155 | 88 | 80 | 333 | 302 | 186 | 194 | 154 | 269 | 168 | 343 | 170 | 106 | 79 | 47 | 32 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 44 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 9 | — | 54 | 42 | 40 | 47 | 31 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 44 | 39 | 30 | 19 | 33 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | S 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | S 16 | S 15 | — | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 13 | ENE 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 18 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 6 | 24 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 5 | — | 21 | 38 | 58 | 39 | 63 | 18 | 6 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 7 | NNW 2 | NE 8 | WNW 3 | S 4 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | SSE 9 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | — |
| kJ | 53 | 230 | 1 | 292 | 1 | 10 | 161 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 463 | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 84 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 0 | 17 | 496 | 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.
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