
Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 2,419 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period with SE 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 11s. 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s break it down. This 16-day window is a bit of a mixed bag, with a couple of solid windows, but you gotta be patient.
The water’s sitting at 65°, which is a degree warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s got that slight edge of unusual warmth, taking the chill off the early morning paddle out at Cowries.
The first real chance to get wet starts Thursday morning, July 9th. Cowries is seeing a 5ft SE swell with an 11-second period, and the energy is moderate (721). The wind is a cross-offshore breeze, making for clean surf. The waves will be a bit lumpy on the sets, but it’s a solid, rideable size for most. Thursday afternoon stays clean, same size, with a lighter breeze. Friday morning holds the same 5ft, 10-second SE swell, still clean. This is a decent, steady run of surf.
Saturday morning, July 11th, the swell drops to 4ft SE, still clean, but the energy is weakening (330). The long window of small surf sets in from Saturday afternoon through to July 14th. The swells dip below 3ft, and the energy drops to very weak levels (as low as 17). The wind is offshore, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. It’s a real flat spell.
Then things wake up in a big way. Wednesday, July 15th, sees a 5ft windswell from the south, but the period is short (8 seconds) and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-offshore, making it choppy and messy. The energy is moderate (219), but the quality is poor. That’s just a tease.
The real event is a big slug of southerly swell arriving on July 16th. Thursday morning has an 12ft swell from the SSE, with a 10-second period. The energy is very strong (1814). The wind is a fresh cross-shore, creating lumpy, cross-chop conditions. This is a case of the numbers being too big for the break. For experts only, and even then, the wind is making it a messy, heavy beast. It’s pushing past 8ft, so it’s a no-go for the average punter. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
That big swell hangs around through Friday the 17th and into Saturday the 18th, peaking with a massive 3858 energy reading. The swell is 10ft from the SE, but the wind is still cross-shore, keeping it lumpy. Not the clean, organised lines you want.
The standout of the whole outlook comes on Saturday afternoon, July 18th. The swell drops to a more manageable 8ft from the SE, still with an 11-second period. The energy is still strong (1138), but the wind finally swings to a light cross-offshore breeze. The surf will be clean, powerful, and lined up. This is the best session on offer. Crowds are possible at Cowries, so get in the water early.
The last week tails off nicely. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th offer clean, 6ft and 4ft waves from the ESE, with light winds. Good surf, but not as punchy as that Saturday. The rest of the period into July 24th fades to smaller, offshore winds, but the energy is weak and the surf becomes ordinary.
So, to sum it up: the first few days are a solid, clean start. Then a big, messy, expert-only swell mid-month. The real golden ticket is the Saturday afternoon, July 18th. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 11 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 7 | S 10 | S 7 | S 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
489 | 489 | 393 | 449 | 456 | 307 | 168 | 164 | 146 | 77 | 31 | 17 | 121 | 44 | 17 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 217 | 1575 | 2159 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:26PM1.39m | 3:46AM1.05m | 4:24PM1.49m | 5:01AM1.03m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:01PM0.37m | 9:39AM0.31m | 11:11PM0.26m | 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 | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 8 | S 11 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 7 | S 10 | E 10 | — | — |
489 | 489 | 393 | 449 | 456 | 307 | 168 | 93 | 146 | 77 | 31 | 10 | 121 | 44 | 17 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | S 21 | ESE 15 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 12 | S 10 | — | S 19 | S 6 | — | — | — |
226 | 75 | 83 | 126 | 9 | 22 | 157 | 164 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 8 | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 19 | S 22 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 5 | S 6 | SE 8 | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | S 17 | — | — | — |
6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNW 4 | W 4 | W 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | — | WNW 3 | W 3 | WSW 2 | SW 3 | S 7 | S 9 | SSE 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 217 | 1575 | 2159 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 98 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 237 | 239 | 443 | 413 | 287 |
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.










