Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, S swell with 2,457 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's cooking.
Alright folks, it’s a bit of a mixed bag on the horizon. We're looking at a stretch that kicks off with a small window of clean surf, but then gets real messy before some promising signs pop up towards the end of the run. The water temperature feels pretty standard for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
We’ve got one spot to watch: Cowries – a reef and point set-up that can handle a bit of swell. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, and while it’s fairly consistent, it can get crowded sometimes.
The best bet in the near-term is Monday morning, the 7th of September. We’re looking at a clean, glassy 4.6ft swell from the SSE with a period of 8 seconds. The combined swell energy is moderate (311), and with that glassy wind, it's going to be a real treat. It's not a monster, but it’s the best we’ve got right now, and conditions are perfect. After that, things go downhill fast. Monday afternoon sees a strong cross-shore wind (25 km/h) and poor conditions, and Tuesday through to the following Monday look poor to marginal. The swell hangs around but the wind is just not playing ball, mostly cross-off or onshore, with a few bigger days pushing 8.2ft that are better left to the experts.
There's a long gap of pretty ordinary surf, but don't lose hope. We’ve got a promising stand-out in the second week. Look at Saturday the 19th of September. The morning brings a solid 6.9ft SSE groundswell with a long 12-second period and a strong combined swell energy (1147). The wind is cross-offshore and clean. This is a proper swell for the experts at 6.9ft, and that long period will wrap nicely around the point. Then, in the afternoon, it drops slightly to 5.2ft from the S, but the wind turns offshore from the WSW. It’s still clean and will offer some excellent, well-shaped waves. This is the one to pencil in as a big possibility, though it is over a week away so keep an eye on it. The following Sunday (20th) also has potential with clean, offshore winds and a fun 4.6ft to 6.2ft swell.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed night, light winds from the W by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 349 | 238 | 336 | 1619 | 660 | 572 | 336 | 108 | 710 | 2162 | 1041 | 1097 | 1514 | 705 | 592 | 574 | 622 | 380 | 232 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:00AM1.00m | 4:59PM1.53m | 5:58AM1.09m | 5:56PM1.59m | 6:46AM1.18m | 6:46PM1.62m | 7:29AM1.27m | 7:33PM1.61m | 8:09AM1.34m | 8:16PM1.55m | 8:47AM1.40m | 8:58PM1.46m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:57PM0.22m | 10:24AM0.42m | 11:54PM0.14m | 11:28AM0.35m | 00:42AM0.07m | 12:24PM0.28m | 1:24AM0.04m | 1:15PM0.22m | 2:02AM0.04m | 2:03PM0.18m | 2:38AM0.07m | 2:49PM0.17m | 3:11AM0.13m | ||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 349 | 238 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 572 | 336 | 108 | 34 | 70 | 39 | 18 | 1106 | 705 | 592 | 574 | 622 | 380 | 232 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSE 10 | NE 7 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | SE 7 | ENE 9 | — | SSE 22 | SSE 22 | ESE 9 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | ENE 13 |
| kJ | 8 | 71 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 53 | 9 | — | 46 | 95 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 33 | 55 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 8 | E 10 | — | — | — | N 9 | E 9 | E 17 | — | E 16 | E 16 | S 22 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 14 | ENE 14 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | 5 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 19 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | — | NW 2 | SW 2 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 |
| kJ | — | — | 336 | 1619 | 660 | — | 1 | 1 | 710 | 2162 | 1041 | 1097 | 1514 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 112 | 10 | 10 | 63 | 0 | 19 | 496 | 19 | 107 | 295 | 0 | 10 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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