Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, S swell with 880 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be 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 13) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Cowries has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a pretty flat and ordinary start. The first few days are a write-off, so don’t bother rushing down. Monday and Tuesday of this week are a total no-go with poor surf conditions and onshore winds making a mess of things. We’ve got a clear gap of no real surf until things start to look up around Thursday the 13th.
The first real glimmer of hope comes Thursday morning the 13th. The swell will be around 5ft from the south, with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is light offshore from the WSW, and that’s going to clean things up nicely. The combined energy is moderate (422). It’s a reef and point setup here, so that south swell should wrap in pretty well. It’s not huge, but it’s the best we’ve seen. Keep in mind crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Friday morning the 14th is the standout for the whole outlook. We’ve got glassy conditions with a light 4ft south swell. The wind is dead calm, just a slight air, which means the surface will be like a mirror. The combined energy is moderate (245). This is the morning to be out there. It’s clean, it’s manageable, and it’s going to be a joy. For beginners, that 4ft is fine, but don’t expect it to be massive.
After that, things drop off again. The weekend and the following week are mostly small, weak, and wonky. The combined energy drops into the double digits, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-offshore, which won’t help the shape. There’s a bit of a pulse around Monday the 24th, but it’s all cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s not worth the paddle.
The very end of the outlook, on Tuesday the 25th, looks promising. We’ve got glassy conditions again, with a 4ft east swell and a 10-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (416). The wind is glassy, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s a long way out, so treat it as a hopeful sign rather than a sure thing. But it’s something to keep an eye on.
Overall, it’s a patchy two weeks. If you’re keen, pencil in Thursday morning or Friday morning of this week. Friday is the winner. The rest is mostly a case of waiting for the next good pulse.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | ENE 10 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 497 | 424 | 134 | 81 | 599 | 259 | 106 | 106 | 112 | 473 | 582 | 115 | 215 | 186 | 82 | 53 | 9 | 85 | 240 | 160 | 70 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 6:08PM1.66m | 7:02AM1.10m | 7:01PM1.72m | 7:51AM1.17m | 7:51PM1.74m | 8:37AM1.23m | 8:37PM1.71m | 9:20AM1.28m | 9:22PM1.63m | 10:02AM1.31m | 10:05PM1.50m | 10:43AM1.33m | 10:48PM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:31AM0.34m | 1:02AM0.05m | 12:29PM0.28m | 1:50AM-0.01m | 1:23PM0.24m | 2:35AM-0.03m | 2:14PM0.21m | 3:16AM-0.02m | 3:04PM0.21m | 3:54AM0.03m | 3:53PM0.23m | 4:30AM0.11m | 4:43PM0.29m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ESE 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 497 | 424 | 134 | 81 | 599 | 259 | 106 | 106 | 49 | 473 | 415 | 115 | 215 | 186 | 79 | 53 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 28 | 70 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 13 | E 13 | S 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SE 13 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SSE 20 | ENE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ENE 10 | ESE 9 | S 11 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 4 | 38 | 59 | 49 | 49 | 52 | 7 | 31 | 30 | 64 | 18 | 17 | 82 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 37 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 12 | — | — | — | S 14 | S 16 | — | NE 7 | ENE 10 | S 18 | SSE 19 | ENE 9 | SSE 16 | S 16 | ESE 7 | SSE 18 | ENE 10 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | — | 2 | 18 | 6 | 37 | 17 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 11 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | — | WNW 4 | NW 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 8 | WSW 3 | S 9 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SSE 6 | — |
| kJ | 22 | 41 | 18 | 6 | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 112 | 1 | 582 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 52 | 85 | 240 | 160 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 408 | 22 | 95 | 80 | 80 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 9 | 10 | 158 |
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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