Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of days are looking pretty flat or weak, but there’s a proper pulse building for the end of the month and into early August. Let’s break it down.

Sunday the 26th morning at Cowries is the first real chance to get wet. You’ve got a clean 5 ft S swell rolling in at 11 seconds, a good solid groundswell, with glassy conditions. The combined energy is moderate (598), so there’s enough push for a fun session on a reef and point setup like this. The water is about average for the time of year, nothing wild. The swell direction is S, which is not the absolute optimum ENE, but with the wind dead calm, it’s going to be clean and inviting. This is the best on offer for the first week. The afternoon turns cross-on with a light ESE breeze, and the swell drops a touch, so morning is the call.

Monday the 27th sees the swell fade fast, down to 3 ft and then 3 ft, with a short period and cross-onshore winds picking up. Forget it. Tuesday the 28th is tiny, with 1 ft and 1.0 ft, clean but no power. Wednesday the 29th is a total write-off with strong offshore winds and barely a ripple.

Now, Thursday the 30th morning is where things get interesting. A jump to 8 ft S swell at 10 seconds, with a gentle offshore wind from the SW. The combined energy is strong (1588), and this is described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s an expert-only window – 8 ft is heavy, especially on a reef and point. The swell direction is a good match for the exposure. The afternoon turns cross-shore and messy, so get it early. This is the standout of the whole forecast.

Friday the 31st morning holds at 8 ft S swell, even bigger, with a cross-off wind. The energy is very strong (2118), but the wind isn’t perfect. Still, for experienced surfers, there’s serious power. It’s marginal for quality, but the size is there. Saturday the 1st of August morning drops to 7 ft, still clean with a cross-off breeze, but the period is shorter, and the energy is still strong (1182). Sunday the 2nd sees a 6 ft SE swell, but the wind is cross-on and then onshore, spoiling it.

There’s a gap from Monday the 3rd through to Friday the 7th, with mostly small, weak, or choppy conditions. The only flicker is Thursday the 6th morning with 6 ft S swell, but it’s a short period (8 seconds) and the wind is cross-off, so it’s marginal.

Then, a real treat on Sunday the 9th of August morning. Glassy conditions, 5 ft S swell at 9 seconds, with combined energy at 680. The wind is dead calm, zero, glassy. That’s a very good surf window. The afternoon goes to crap with onshore wind, but the morning session is a genuine standout second-week option. The swell direction is S, not the optimum, but with that glass, who cares.

Saturday the 10th morning offers 6 ft SSE swell, but it’s short period (8 seconds) and cross-shore, so it’s only average.

Overall, the best bets are Thursday the 30th morning for the experienced crew, and Sunday the 9th morning for a clean, fun session. The Sunday the 26th morning is solid if you’re keen to get out early.

Rusty

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