Cowries Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.58° S 150.88° E

Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cowries sea temperature is
17.9°C
0.6° 

Cowries surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cowries surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,437 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with NE 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 1AM. 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 7s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Mon 14th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s
Best Surf 1PM (Wed 16th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Thu 17th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it. We're looking at a pretty bleak stretch for Cowries, a reef and point setup that's usually a fairly consistent beginner-friendly spot. The forecast over this whole 16-day window is rough, with very few windows that are worth paddling out for. The water temperature is sitting at about 64.2°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Right off the bat, from Saturday the 12th through to Monday the 14th of September, it’s mostly poor. We've got small, weak swell with a combined energy mostly under 300, and the wind is cross-onshore almost constantly, chopping things up. Not worth the drive.

The first glimmer of something surfable shows up on Tuesday the 15th. The morning session at Cowries is looking at a tiny 2.3 ft swell from the NE, but it's clean with light cross-offshore winds. The energy is really weak though, only about 67. It's surfable, but very ordinary. The afternoon gets a bit more size at 3.6 ft from the SSE, but the wind swings cross-shore, and it gets messy.

Wednesday the 16th is the standout. The afternoon is the only time in this entire forecast I’d call a proper “go.” We're looking at a solid 11.5 ft swell from the S with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is sky-high at 2253, so it’s powerful. The wind is fresh and cross-offshore, keeping things clean. The only problem is that this is way too big for Cowries. It's a beginner spot, and at this size, it's strictly for experts only. The morning is also big at 8.2 ft, but the score suggests it's marginal due to the size and conditions.

Thursday the 17th drops back a bit. The morning has a 8.2 ft S swell, still clean but again, too big for the average punter around here. The afternoon is a little smaller at 7.2 ft, but the cross-shore wind brings in a cross-chop.

After that, it fades hard. Friday the 18th morning has a knee-high 3.3 ft S swell with glassy conditions, which is nice, but it's very weak and ordinary. The next week, from Saturday the 19th all the way through to the end of the forecast on Sunday the 27th, it’s a write-off. There are a few tiny pulses, like a 4.9 ft SSE swell on Tuesday the 22nd, but the winds are either onshore or cross-off, and the quality just isn't there. Most days show "poor surf conditions" with low scores. There’s a long gap of over a week with nothing worth mentioning.

So, to sum it up: Wednesday the 16th afternoon is the only real standout, but only if you’re an expert ready for a heavy, powerful 11.5 ft wave. For everyone else, this is a two-week dud.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed morning, light winds from the S by Thu afternoon).

Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
!
!
1
1
2
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
9
0.7
S
10
0.7
S
10
1.4
NE
6
1.2
NE
7
1.1
NE
6
1.2
ENE
7
0.7
NE
7
1.1
SSE
6
3
S
8
2.5
S
9
3.5
S
10
3.5
S
10
2.5
S
9
2.2
SSE
8
1.7
SSE
8
1
S
8
0.8
S
9
0.9
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
259
170
118
108
100
162
128
77
134
50
98
1217
1164
2243
2437
1145
678
335
134
103
137
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
25
NE
10
NNW
15
NNE
25
NE
10
NW
5
NNE
20
N
10
W
15
SSW
20
SSE
25
SW
35
SSW
35
S
30
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSE
10
WNW
5
NE
15
NNE
10
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
High Tide
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
12:59PM1.24m
2:00AM0.85m
Low Tide
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
6:10AM0.54m
8:09PM0.47m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:54
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:46
5:47
5:49
 mm
2
3
Temp °C
19
18
14
21
19
17
24
24
18
18
17
11
13
13
12
14
14
11
19
19
16
Feels °C
15
14
12
16
15
15
20
20
16
16
14
5
4
4
4
9
10
9
15
16
13
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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