
Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,473 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 19s. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) 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 0.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
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's cookin' for the Cowries stretch over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it's not gonna be an easy ride.
First up, we're looking at a run of real ordinary conditions lasting several days. From now through to next week, we've got mostly light to moderate cross-onshore breezes messing up what little swell there is. The first real glimmer of something decent doesn't show up until Tuesday the 15th, but even then it's only a tiny 3ft from the NE with a short 7-second period. The energy is real weak at just 80 (combined energy of all swells directed here). Clean enough, with a light breeze, but the size and shape just aren't there to get excited about. Honestly, you could almost write off the first week of this outlook.
Then comes the standout. Wednesday the 16th is the one that's got my heart racing. A big pulse of swell rolls in, hitting 10ft (S) in the morning and building to 12ft (S) by the afternoon. The combined swell energy (2262) screams that there's some serious power in the water. The wind goes cross-off, keeping things clean. Now, at that size – over 8ft – this is strictly for the experienced crew. The point and reef set-up at Cowries should handle it, but don't even think about paddling out if you're not confident. That Wednesday afternoon window is top-tier. Thursday the 17th holds big, too, with 10ft (S) in the morning (3204 combined energy) and 8ft (S) in the arvo, but the wind is a bit more side-shore, and the forecast confidence is a touch lower. We're talking about a powerful south groundswell with a period around 9-10 seconds – good, solid, proper waves for the experts.
After that big pulse, things really drop away. We go back into a long, flat, and choppy stretch from Friday the 18th through to the end of the third week. There's a little blip of 5ft (S) on Monday the 21st, but the energy is weak (276) and it's pretty marginal.
Looking further out, toward the end of the month, we get another pulse on Thursday the 25th with 6ft (S) and a 10-second period delivering a moderate 759 combined energy. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it'll be alright, but it's not the same quality as that big Wednesday swell. The conditions will be tricky but might just be surfable.
So, to break it down: if you're an expert, clear your schedule for Wednesday the 16th afternoon. That is the true standout. For everyone else, there's a lot of sitting on the sand in your future.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Tue night, light winds from the S by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 7 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
235 | 259 | 170 | 118 | 108 | 100 | 106 | 124 | 56 | 58 | 62 | 39 | 1569 | 1464 | 2252 | 2340 | 1819 | 1064 | 423 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:47AM1.40m | 8:58PM1.46m | 9:24AM1.43m | 9:39PM1.34m | 10:00AM1.43m | 10:19PM1.21m | 10:38AM1.40m | 11:02PM1.09m | 11:18AM1.36m | 11:49PM0.98m | 12:04PM1.30m | 00:46AM0.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:38AM0.07m | 2:49PM0.17m | 3:11AM0.13m | 3:34PM0.19m | 3:43AM0.21m | 4:19PM0.24m | 4:15AM0.29m | 5:06PM0.30m | 4:48AM0.38m | 5:58PM0.37m | 5:25AM0.47m | 6:58PM0.43m | |||||||
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | S 6 | NE 7 | ENE 14 | NE 12 | E 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
235 | 259 | 170 | 118 | 108 | 100 | 56 | 54 | 35 | 58 | 62 | 33 | 7 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 1382 | 796 | 423 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 20 | NE 4 | SSE 16 | ENE 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | NE 7 | E 14 | ENE 14 | E 15 | — | E 13 | S 18 | E 13 |
70 | 70 | 77 | 9 | 26 | 17 | 106 | 85 | 56 | 31 | 15 | 39 | 4 | 19 | 4 | — | 3 | 25 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | SSE 19 | ENE 13 | — | E 13 | E 13 | ENE 13 | E 12 | E 13 | S 9 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | — |
14 | 19 | 19 | 74 | 17 | — | 13 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 3 | NNW 2 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NW 2 | — | SW 3 | E 3 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — |
— | — | 6 | 1 | 8 | 37 | 72 | 124 | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 1569 | 1464 | 2252 | 2340 | 1819 | 1064 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 10 | 408 | 3 | 10 | 408 | 3 | 10 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 936 | 632 | 57 | 10 | 10 | 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.










