Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Issued: 3 pm 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
18.9° C

1.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year

Cowries surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cowries surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 5 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 2,683 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 7s 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 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 1PM. 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 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 5th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 11s
Best Surf10AM (Sun 5th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Tue 7th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya.

Alright, listen up. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for us here. There’s some serious size on the way, but it’s going to take its sweet time getting organized, and for a few days it’s going to be way too big for this spot. We have a window of clean, manageable waves, but you gotta be patient and pick your sessions carefully.

Looking ahead, the standout action is shaping up for Sunday the 5th of July. We’re looking at a solid 12 ft south swell rolling in, with a moderate cross-off breeze from the SSW. The conditions will be clean, but let me tell you straight – that’s a serious amount of water. At that size, with a combined swell energy of 4110, Cowries is going to be a beast. This is strictly for the experts only; if you’re not comfortable in heavy water, stay on the beach and watch. The water is sitting at about 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you’ll be comfortable while you’re getting worked.

The best bet for most of us, the one I’d really recommend, actually falls on Thursday the 9th of July. The swell has dropped back to a much more friendly 6 ft from the southeast, with a period of 10 seconds, and a light SSW breeze keeping things clean. The combined energy is a moderate 750, and the forecast says expect very good surf conditions. That morning session is where you want to be. It’s a proper window of quality waves without the terrifying size. The swell direction from the southeast is what this reef and point setup really likes.

Leading up to that, the first few days are pretty much a write-off. Saturday the 4th is small and weak with a crappy cross-on wind. Then the big swell hits on Sunday, and it’s just too much. Monday and Tuesday are also still too big and a bit chunky, with most days getting a marginal rating. We see a gap there until that Thursday morning.

After that good Thursday, the surf tapers off quickly. Friday the 10th is still rideable at 5 ft, but it’s not as exciting. Then we hit a proper flat spell. From the 11th through to the 18th, the waves are either tiny, blown out, or the swell energy is too weak. The 14th of July, for example, has waves so small you’d be floating, with a combined energy of just 24. That’s a long, quiet stretch.

But hold on, there’s a potential return to power in the longer range. On Sunday the 19th of July, we see a new southeast groundswell building to a clean 5 ft with a very long period of 13 seconds. The wind will be light out of the WNW, so it should be glassy. That’s a promising prospect, but it’s far out, so keep an eye on it. That kind of period will wrap in nicely and give some proper grunt.

Stay safe out there, and don’t bite off more than you can chew.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Sun afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
4
!
2
3
2
2
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
1
2
2
1
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
S
8
2.1
S
11
3.5
S
11
3
SSE
12
2.5
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SE
11
3
SE
11
2.5
SE
11
2.3
SE
11
1.8
SE
11
1.8
SE
10
1.8
SE
10
1.6
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.7
SE
10
1.6
SE
10
1.3
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
108
1068
2549
2434
1440
1077
1058
1412
1977
2551
2150
1473
1146
743
609
566
430
437
557
459
294
Wind (km/h)
10
SE
10
SW
25
SSW
30
S
25
S
20
S
25
S
20
SW
20
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSW
20
SW
20
S
15
SW
15
SSW
10
SSE
10
SW
5
S
5
E
10
WNW
10
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross
High Tide
10:59PM1.41m
11:59AM1.11m
11:40PM1.34m
12:45PM1.16m
00:27AM1.26m
1:35PM1.22m
1:24AM1.17m
2:29PM1.30m
2:31AM1.09m
3:26PM1.39m
3:46AM1.05m
4:24PM1.49m
5:01AM1.03m
Low Tide
4:40PM0.46m
5:45AM0.20m
5:30PM0.49m
6:22AM0.21m
6:27PM0.50m
7:03AM0.23m
7:33PM0.49m
7:49AM0.26m
8:46PM0.45m
8:41AM0.29m
10:01PM0.37m
9:39AM0.31m
11:11PM0.26m
10:39AM0.31m
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:57
4:58
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
 mm
1
2
1
1
2
2
Temp °C
15
12
13
13
13
14
14
13
14
14
13
15
14
12
15
15
13
15
15
13
17
Feels °C
13
9
7
7
7
9
9
9
9
9
9
10
10
9
12
12
11
13
13
11
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
S
8
1.2
S
11
2.5
S
11
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
16
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SE
10
3
SE
11
3
SE
11
2.5
SE
11
2.3
SE
11
1.8
SE
11
1.8
SE
10
1.8
SE
10
1.6
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.7
SE
10
1.6
SE
10
1.3
SE
9
Energy kJ
108
363
1553
7
3
4
5
1172
1422
2005
1806
1473
1146
743
609
566
430
437
557
459
294
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
7
0.2
ENE
7
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.5
S
10
0.7
ESE
14
1.1
ESE
12
1.1
ESE
11
0.9
ESE
10
0.3
S
8
0.6
SE
14
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
18
0.1
E
15
Energy kJ
5
5
6
5
5
47
195
339
260
135
12
149
4
6
4
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
8
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
13
0.2
S
15
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
15
0.1
E
15
Energy kJ
3
1
2
3
18
6
5
8
4
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
S
11
3.5
S
11
3
SSE
12
2.5
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SE
11
3
SE
11
0.6
WSW
4
Energy kJ
1068
2549
2434
1440
1077
1058
1412
1977
2551
2150
10
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
Distance (km)
64
0
10
287
155
90
19
10
10
18
10
10
19
0
0
10
0
0
64
0
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
3
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
9
9
6
4
4
8
7
5
5
8
5
5
4
4
5
5
4
4
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
9
6
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
7
5
4
8
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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