Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, E swell with 2,260 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 (Jul 15) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Cowries over the next couple of weeks.
It’s a slow cooker to start. From Sunday the 12th through Tuesday the 15th, it’s flat or blown out – nothing worth waxing up for. Water temp is running about 63°F, which is a degree or so warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first real push comes Wednesday the 15th. We’re looking at a solid 8ft southerly swell, but the wind is messy cross-off from the SSW, gusting to 19 mph. The energy is moderate (972 combined), but the period is short, around 9-10 seconds. It’s lumpy, windy, and marginal. Only for the experienced guys.
Thursday the 16th is a washout with short-period, onshore junk. Friday the 17th is a little better with 5ft easterly swell and lighter winds, but still nothing to write home about.
Here’s the real standout. Sunday the 19th of July is the day. We’ve got a proper 10ft easterly groundswell with a long 11-second period. The combined energy is strong at 2032. Winds are light from the SSW (6 mph), so it’ll be cross-off and clean. This is a reef and point, so that long-period easterly swell is going to lock in. But at 10ft, this is for experts only. Beginners, stay on the sand. Crowds are “sometimes,” so expect a few, but the size will thin things out.
Monday the 20th still has some juice with 7ft easterly swell, but the morning is the window. The afternoon gets chopped by a cross-on northeast breeze.
The following week has some cleaner, smaller days. Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd offer 5ft to 6ft easterly swell with glassy or light offshore conditions. That’s your fun, clean paddle window.
The last few days (24th to 27th) fade fast. Swell drops to 1ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak. The winds are often offshore or glassy, but there’s just no power. It’s a flat spell.
Bottom line: Sunday the 19th morning is the big one for powerful, clean waves. Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd are your best bets for smaller, clean fun. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 7 | S 16 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 12 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 54 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 972 | 971 | 576 | 432 | 179 | 197 | 277 | 277 | 389 | 547 | 690 | 2107 | 1965 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:18PM1.69m | 7:11AM1.08m | 7:13PM1.76m | 8:07AM1.12m | 8:05PM1.80m | 8:59AM1.15m | 8:55PM1.79m | 9:48AM1.18m | 9:44PM1.73m | 10:37AM1.20m | 10:32PM1.62m | 11:25AM1.22m | 11:20PM1.47m | 12:13PM1.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:13AM0.05m | 12:37PM0.28m | 2:07AM-0.03m | 1:32PM0.25m | 2:58AM-0.07m | 2:26PM0.24m | 3:45AM-0.06m | 3:18PM0.25m | 4:31AM-0.02m | 4:11PM0.29m | 5:14AM0.05m | 5:06PM0.34m | 5:55AM0.13m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 |
 | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | 5:06 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | S 16 | S 14 | ESE 6 | S 6 | E 8 | ESE 8 | SE 21 | S 10 | ESE 9 | E 12 | E 11 |
| kJ | 54 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 18 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 87 | 50 | 277 | 277 | 17 | 17 | 690 | 2107 | 1965 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 12 | SE 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 6 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | E 8 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 19 | ENE 11 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 11 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 221 | 30 | 55 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | E 8 | S 16 | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — | S 13 | S 17 | S 18 | S 18 | S 21 | S 20 | SE 18 | S 8 | SE 17 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | W 3 | W 3 | W 3 | NW 2 | NW 2 | W 3 | SSW 5 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 972 | 971 | 576 | 432 | 179 | 197 | 16 | 24 | 389 | 547 | 6 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 80 | 98 | 167 | 375 | 375 | 251 | 10 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 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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