Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, S swell with 805 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with SSE 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 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s is also forecast. 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 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here with the goods for your local patch.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag for the next 16 days. The week starts off pretty average, but there’s a solid pulse of energy moving through mid-week that’s worth keeping an eye on. The water temp is sitting at a fairly average 64°F, so nothing unusual for this time of year.
We’ll kick things off at Cowries (reef and point). The first real chance to get wet comes up on Thursday, 27 August. The morning session is looking like the standout for the whole period. We’ve got a clean 7ft swell pushing in from the south, with a light SSW breeze keeping it cross-off and tidy. The combined energy is pumping at a solid 1185, so there’s plenty of grunt in the water. The swell period is a short 8 seconds, so it won’t be the most organised, but with that much size and clean conditions, it’s going to be a fun one for those who know what they’re doing. The swell is a bit much for beginners, but for the experienced crew, it’s a goer.
Friday, 28 August, isn’t a write-off either. The morning sees a 5ft south-southeast swell with an 11-second period, which is a nice, longer-period groundswell. The wind is light and cross-off from the SSW, so the wave face should be clean. The energy is moderate at 671, and the longer period will give those waves a bit more shape and punch. It’s a solid option for a Friday arvo paddle.
After that, things start to peter out. The weekend drops off into smaller, less organised surf, with some cross-shore and onshore winds creeping in. By Monday, 31 August, we’re looking at small, weak waves with poor conditions, and it pretty much stays that way through the first week of September. There’s a long gap of small, marginal surf from the 31st of August right through to the 8th of September, with only a few sessions that are just "surfable" but nothing to get excited about.
Late in the forecast, on the morning of Wednesday, 9 September, we get a bit of a reprieve. It’s small, only 2ft, but the wind is dead calm and glassy. The energy is a weak 104, but if you’re desperate for a clean, knee-high wave and some peace and quiet, it’s an option. But overall, don’t get your hopes up for the second week.
Best bet: Thursday 27 August morning at Cowries. That’s the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 180 | 412 | 549 | 257 | 177 | 521 | 446 | 334 | 400 | 171 | 139 | 150 | 169 | 150 | 119 | 117 | 90 | 116 | 82 | 49 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:03AM1.37m | 10:12PM1.33m | 10:44AM1.40m | 10:58PM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:09PM0.26m | 4:24AM0.19m | 4:59PM0.28m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 24 | 19 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 21 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 11 | ENE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 82 | 302 | 549 | 257 | 165 | 521 | 26 | 334 | 400 | 118 | 129 | 150 | 169 | 150 | 119 | 117 | 90 | 116 | 82 | 49 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 4 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 9 | 69 | 44 | 41 | 177 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 245 | 171 | 139 | 46 | 25 | 19 | 88 | 50 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 34 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | ENE 9 | SSW 13 | S 11 | — | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 16 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SSE 14 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | NE 5 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 22 | 19 | 44 | 59 | 36 | — | 19 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 3 | 51 | 18 | 17 | 40 | 12 | 38 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | SSE 10 | — | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NNE 3 | N 4 | NE 5 | NW 2 |
| kJ | 180 | 412 | — | — | — | — | 446 | — | 392 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 41 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 10 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 10 | 67 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 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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