
Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, S swell with 5,627 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 3s 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.
First off, the water at Cowries is running about 65°, which is just a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – nothing crazy.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a slog. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, messy, or just plain ordinary surf. Thursday the 6th starts with a tiny 3ft S swell, but it’s onshore and weak – combined energy is only 110, so pretty limp. Friday the 7th morning has a 2ft SSE swell with a clean offshore wind, but it’s just too small to get excited about. Saturday the 8th morning is glassy with a 2ft S swell, but again, tiny. The whole run from the 6th through the 10th is mostly a washout, with energy barely cracking 100 most of the time, and when it does pick up a bit on the 10th, it’s blown out or too cross.
Now, there is a light. Tuesday the 11th morning – that’s the first real standout. We’ve got a 4ft S swell, period 9 seconds, and a clean offshore wind from the west. Combined energy is a solid 375 (moderate), and the wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” For a reef and point break like Cowries, that S swell with offshore wind should line up real nice. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue, so you might have a few out, but it’s worth the paddle.
Then things get rowdy. Thursday the 13th afternoon – hold onto your board. The swell pumps up to 16ft from the south, period 11 seconds, and the energy is a massive 9019. That is heavy, powerful stuff. But the catch? The forecast says it’s too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s going to be straight-up heavy. Not for the faint-hearted.
Friday the 14th morning still has a solid 10ft SSE swell with offshore winds – that’s still big, but the comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” (score 4 internally). Energy is 2314, still very strong. If you’re a solid surfer and you can handle the size, this is the best session on offer. The period is 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell, which will wrap nicely into the point. Just be aware that at this size, it’s only for experts.
After that, the swell drops back through the 15th and 16th, but conditions stay clean with cross-off winds. The size is more manageable (8ft down to 4ft), but the energy is still moderate to strong. Nothing else really jumps out as a standout after the 14th.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is mostly a dud. Your best bet is Tuesday the 11th morning for a fun, clean session on a moderate swell. But if you’ve got the skills and the nerve, Friday the 14th morning is the real gem – just don’t take a beginner out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the W on Mon morning, light winds from the NNW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | NNE 6 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
100 | 38 | 63 | 56 | 48 | 44 | 49 | 48 | 89 | 121 | 291 | 282 | 128 | 155 | 270 | 145 | 361 | 171 | 87 | 73 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:17AM1.00m | 2:58PM1.41m | 3:40AM0.97m | 4:05PM1.48m | 4:59AM0.98m | 5:09PM1.57m | 6:06AM1.03m | 6:08PM1.66m | 7:02AM1.10m | 7:01PM1.72m | 7:51AM1.17m | 7:51PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:31PM0.40m | 8:08AM0.37m | 9:51PM0.34m | 9:16AM0.40m | 11:05PM0.25m | 10:26AM0.38m | 00:08AM0.14m | 11:31AM0.34m | 1:02AM0.05m | 12:29PM0.28m | 1:50AM-0.01m | 1:23PM0.24m | 2:35AM-0.03m | |||||||
— | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 7 |
100 | 26 | 63 | 56 | 48 | 44 | 16 | 48 | 89 | 121 | 291 | 282 | 128 | 139 | 270 | 145 | 361 | 171 | 71 | 73 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | NE 4 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 8 |
6 | 38 | 36 | 21 | 32 | 31 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 155 | 85 | 93 | 37 | 33 | 33 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | S 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 16 | SSE 8 | S 6 | E 14 | SE 13 | — | — | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 11 | S 14 | — | SE 11 |
3 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 7 | — | — | 59 | 20 | 37 | 10 | 4 | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 2 | — | W 3 | SSE 2 | — | — | E 8 | NNW 2 | NNW 2 | NE 5 | NNW 5 | W 4 | WSW 4 | W 4 | — | W 4 | NW 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | WNW 3 |
1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 84 | 35 | 31 | 14 | — | 14 | 1 | 10 | 87 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 228 | 3 | 3 | 167 | 18 | 39 | 190 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 85 | 3 | 218 |
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.











