Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with 1,681 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period with E 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 4s 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Cowries.
We’ve got a dry spell to start – several days with nothing worth paddling out for. The first real chance comes Saturday July 11th. Saturday morning sees a 4ft swell from the SE, period 9 seconds, combined energy at 352 – that’s moderate. Wind is light NW cross-off, so it’s clean. But by afternoon, the wind switches cross-on and it gets choppy, so morning only.
Sunday July 12th, swell drops to 2ft from the ESE, period 10 seconds, with solid offshore wind from the W at 16 mph. Small but glassy – a longboard morning.
Monday and Tuesday (July 13–14) are flat as a pancake. Swell under 1ft, energy in the single digits. Don’t bother.
Wednesday July 15th sees a big pulse: 10ft swell from the S, period 9 seconds, with energy at 1681 – that’s strong. But 10ft is way over 8ft, so this is expert-only. The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 16 mph, keeping it clean, but the short period means lumpy, powerful close-outs. Not for beginners.
Through Thursday and Friday (July 16–17), swell settles to 3–4ft, wind stays cross-off, clean. Moderate energy.
Now the standout – Sunday July 19th morning: glassy with a light WNW breeze at 3 mph, 6ft swell from the E at 10 seconds, energy at 770. That’s clean, solid, and fun. Then Monday July 20th morning: 8ft from the E, 12-second period, glassy, energy at 1723. That’s proper groundswell. That morning is the best on offer – for experienced surfers only, as 8ft is expert territory. The east direction lines up well with what Cowries likes (optimum from ENE), so the reef and point should handle it. Crowds are possible.
Water temp is about 65°F, right around average for this time of year.
Into the second week, from July 23–26, we’ve got leftover swell around 4–6ft with good periods (11–12 seconds) and clean conditions. Saturday afternoon July 25th stands out: 6ft from the ESE, 11 seconds, light WNW cross-off, clean.
So bottom line: first week is mostly flat or small, Wednesday July 15th is big and gnarly for experts, but the absolute best window is Monday July 20th morning – glassy, solid groundswell, plenty of energy. That’s the one.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | S 12 | E 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 190 | 176 | 149 | 77 | 54 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 1681 | 993 | 366 | 131 | 78 | 232 | 185 | 152 | 138 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 5:22PM1.59m | 6:10AM1.05m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:39AM0.31m | 00:15AM0.15m | 11:39AM0.30m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — |
 | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | S 12 | E 10 | — | S 15 | S 15 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 190 | 109 | 149 | 77 | 54 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 2 | — | 5 | 4 | 82 | 78 | 232 | 185 | 152 | 138 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 12 | SE 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | E 8 | S 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 18 | S 11 |
| kJ | 157 | 176 | 45 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 71 | 31 | 47 | 6 | 37 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 15 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | — | SW 5 | S 7 | S 7 | E 8 | — | S 15 | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | S 12 | — | S 17 | SSE 21 |
| kJ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 48 | — | 24 | 45 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 3 | NNW 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 3 | W 4 | WSW 3 | NW 2 | WNW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 7 | S 7 | — | S 7 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 36 | 1681 | 993 | 366 | 131 | — | 42 | 40 | 75 | 92 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 117 | 179 | 169 | 98 | 306 | 299 | 251 | 57 | 10 | 57 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 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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