Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SE swell with 172 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 18s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, mate. Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards at Cowries.
The outlook for the next fortnight and a bit is a bit of a mixed bag. We've got nothing much at the start of the period. The first couple of days, from Saturday the 15th through to Friday the 21st of August, are pretty quiet. The waves are just not happening, with small, poorly shaped swells and winds all over the shop. It's a real flat spell with a few days of barely surfable slop, so you're not missing much.
However, things start to get interesting from Wednesday the 26th of August. The ocean wakes up in a big way. On Wednesday the 26th, we see a big jump in size, with 5ft southerly swell on offer. But it's on Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th that things are truly massive. By Friday, it's a clean, glassy 16ft of long-period southerly groundswell (13 seconds) with huge combined energy (13869). But there's a catch—this is all far too big for this break. The swell is well over 8ft, making it a serious, big-wave setup that only the most experienced crew should be looking at.
The real standout, and the best on offer, is Saturday the 29th of August at Cowries. The swell drops to 10ft from the SSE, which is still a sizeable, powerful swell, and winds are light and cross-offshore, giving you clean conditions. The combined energy is still very strong (2177), and the period is a decent 11 seconds, suggesting good, powerful waves. This is the window for experienced surfers to get a piece of it. It's still big, but it's clean and manageable for those with the skill.
After that, into Sunday the 30th, it starts dropping back down and gets messy again.
So, the long and short of it is: a flat start, then a massive pulse that's too big, and one solid day of top-tier, clean, big-wave conditions on Saturday the 29th.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | S 6 | SE 6 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | S 11 | ESE 13 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 203 | 81 | 172 | 151 | 122 | 79 | 56 | 82 | 55 | 59 | 102 | 82 | 72 | 90 | 68 | 56 | 64 | 86 | 75 | 56 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 10:05PM1.50m | 10:43AM1.33m | 10:48PM1.35m | 11:25AM1.33m | 11:33PM1.19m | 12:09PM1.31m | 00:20AM1.05m | 12:57PM1.28m | 1:17AM0.93m | 1:52PM1.25m | 2:28AM0.86m | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:49AM0.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:30AM0.11m | 4:43PM0.29m | 5:05AM0.20m | 5:35PM0.35m | 5:40AM0.30m | 6:32PM0.42m | 6:17AM0.40m | 7:36PM0.47m | 7:00AM0.48m | 8:51PM0.49m | 7:55AM0.53m | 10:06PM0.48m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | S 6 | S 9 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 65 | 81 | 43 | 88 | 47 | 79 | 55 | 35 | 42 | 52 | 85 | 73 | 57 | 90 | 68 | 56 | 64 | 86 | 75 | 56 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | S 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 17 | 60 | 61 | 151 | 122 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 55 | 54 | 102 | 82 | 72 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | — | — | — | E 10 | — | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 59 | 11 | 14 | 10 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | — | SE 6 | — | — | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | N 3 | N 4 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 203 | — | 172 | — | — | 64 | 56 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 5 | 13 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 57 | 0 | 10 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 10 | 69 | 17 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
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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