Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, checking in from down the coast.

Right now, we’re looking at a stretch that’s gonna test our patience a bit. The next week or so is a mixed bag of building and fading energy, all from the south-southeast, but there’s a heavy price to pay in terms of wind and conditions. The real standout, if you can wait for it, is shaping up for Wednesday the 15th and then again on Saturday the 18th.

The water temp is running about average for the time of year, nothing wild to report there.

We start this week with solid, powerful swell already pulsing. On Monday the 6th, Cowries is seeing 8ft of SSE swell, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is strong, registering 1321, but a moderate southerly breeze has it a bit bumpy. The surf is there, but it's not the cleanest. The same goes right through Tuesday the 7th where the swell builds to 10ft (3723 energy) coming from the SSE, swinging SE by the afternoon. That's a big, chunky wave, pushing into the zone where it's really only for experienced surfers. The wind stays cross-offshore, so the face is rideable, just not pristine.

Wednesday the 8th still has plenty of size at 8ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, with that energy staying high. By Thursday the 9th, we drop down to a much more manageable 6ft, and the energy drops to 770. The wind lightens up to a light breeze, and the afternoon even calls for a light breeze. This is where it starts to clean up. Friday the 10th is when we see a real shift. The swell hangs around 5ft, but the wind goes totally glassy in the afternoon. That’s clean, lined-up surf, though the energy is getting weaker at 439.

Saturday the 11th starts with glassy conditions and a small 4ft swell from the SE. It’s clean but small. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze and the wave size drops further. Then we hit a dry spell. From Sunday the 12th through to Tuesday the 14th, the swell goes flat, dropping below 3ft and with very low energy (143 and below). There are days of wind and small, poor waves – not worth paddling out for. This is a solid week of flat to tiny conditions.

Now, here’s the promise. Wednesday the 15th morning. Cowries gets a fresh 7ft groundswell from the south, with a long 11 second period. The wind goes light offshore. The energy jumps to 1010. This is the first proper call. It’s clean, it’s got push, and it’s coming from a good direction for this spot. That offshore wind will have the faces smooth. This is a standout window. The afternoon does get a bit messy again with a 19 mph cross-off, so aim for the morning.

Thursday the 16th brings even more swell, up to 10ft, but it’s crossed up and wind-affected. That’s for experts only, and even then, it’s a battle.

Friday the 17th sees it drop back to 7ft with steady wind. But the next real highlight is Saturday the 18th morning. The swell is 6ft from the SE, period 11 seconds, and the energy is 874. The wind is glassy again. Dead calm. That’s the other standout. If you can make it, Saturday morning looks like the cleanest, most fun session of the second week. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze, so it’s a short window.

The weekend after that (Sunday the 19th) and into Monday the 20th sees the swell fade rapidly back to tiny, weak surf. There’s a final note on the 21st of July: a massive 15ft south swell is predicted, which is simply too big for Cowries and only for the most experienced.

So, to sum it up: get on it this Thursday afternoon or Friday afternoon for some clean if small waves. But the two true standouts are Wednesday the 15th morning and Saturday the 18th morning. Those are your windows.

Rusty.

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