Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, NE swell with 474 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 (Sep 01) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s cookin’ at Cowries.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window is a tough one. For the first week and a bit, we’ve got small, weak swell and a whole lot of "poor surf conditions" starin' us in the face. The water temp is sittin' around 64°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, nothing wild there.
The first real glimpse of anything decent doesn't come until Sunday, September 6th, in the morning. We’ll see a glassy, clean 4ft swell from the south, with a combined wave energy of 244. That’s a weak to moderate pulse, but the glassy conditions make it a real chance for a few fun ones. But man, it’s a tease – by the afternoon, the wind swings onshore and it's back to rubbish.
Then we hit a dry spell. The 7th through the 8th are mostly poor, with onshore or cross-shore winds and messy, short-period swell. Nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for.
But hold onto your leashes, because the real story unfolds on Wednesday, September 9th. The swell meter goes nuts. We’re talkin’ a massive 15ft swell from the SSE, with a combined energy reading of 4801 – that’s serious, strong energy. The winds are light and cross-shore, so it’s not a total washout, but for a reef and point break like Cowries, that’s expert territory only. The guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is big-wave territory, and unless you’re charging on a gun, you’re gonna want to sit this one out. It carries into Thursday the 10th with an 12ft swell from the SE, glassy morning, but again, way too big for a normal paddle.
After that, the swell drops back down through the 11th and 12th, but the wind is onshore, keeping it messy. The last few days from the 13th to the 15th are just small, weak, and poor – nothin’ to get excited about.
So, the standout? It’s gotta be that Sunday morning, September 6th. It’s not a big swell, but those glassy conditions at 4ft from the south will make for the cleanest, most user-friendly waves in the whole outlook. Get out there early. The big stuff on the 9th and 10th is a spectacle, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat morning, calm by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 106 | 101 | 149 | 138 | 98 | 77 | 73 | 49 | 55 | 34 | 50 | 53 | 45 | 141 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 230 | 98 | 71 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross |
High Tide | 10:12PM1.33m | 10:44AM1.40m | 10:58PM1.23m | 11:29AM1.41m | 11:52PM1.11m | 12:23PM1.40m | 00:58AM1.01m | 1:27PM1.40m | 2:21AM0.95m | 2:40PM1.41m | 3:47AM0.95m | 3:54PM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:24AM0.19m | 4:59PM0.28m | 5:02AM0.26m | 5:57PM0.31m | 5:47AM0.33m | 7:06PM0.34m | 6:42AM0.40m | 8:26PM0.34m | 7:51AM0.46m | 9:47PM0.29m | 9:09AM0.47m | 10:57PM0.22m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 |
| kJ | 106 | 101 | 149 | 138 | 98 | 77 | 73 | 49 | 55 | 34 | 50 | 53 | 45 | 141 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 230 | 98 | 39 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 16 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 15 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 46 | 27 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | E 13 | E 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 7 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 12 |
| kJ | 50 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 71 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NNW 2 | NW 3 | NE 6 | NW 2 | WNW 2 | WSW 3 | W 3 | — | ENE 3 | NNE 5 | NW 2 | W 3 | WSW 2 | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | 6 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 69 | 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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