Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, SSE swell with 959 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 2.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Cowries.
Right off the bat, the best window is shaping up as Thursday the 27th of August through to Sunday the 30th. The water temp is sitting at a pretty standard 64°F for this time of year, so nothing unusual there – just your normal tropical warmth.
Thursday morning the 27th is the standout. We’ve got a solid 6ft S swell with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 560. The wind is a light S cross-off, so those waves will be clean and well-shaped. Cowries is a reef and point break, so that S swell will wrap in nicely. It’s fairly consistent, and crowds are sometimes around, but on a morning like this, get there early and you’ll score.
Friday morning the 28th is also very good – 5ft from the SSE at 11 seconds, moderate energy at 626, and a light SSW cross-off breeze. Clean again, and that longer period will give you some extra push.
Saturday morning the 29th is glassy with a 4ft SSE swell, 8-second period, and moderate energy at 448. That glassy wind is a major plus – it’ll be as smooth as it gets.
Sunday morning the 30th is worth a look too – 6ft from the S at 9 seconds, energy up to 775, but the wind is light cross-shore, so a little bit of bump.
After Sunday, the trend drops off. Monday the 31st gets messy with a strong cross-on wind, and from Tuesday the 1st of September onwards, the swell fades into the 1ft to 3ft range with only weak energy. There’s a long gap of poor conditions from Monday afternoon all the way through to the end of the forecast on Wednesday the 9th of September. Not much to write home about – a few clean mornings with tiny waves, but nothing for a proper session.
So, if you’re keen, point your board at Thursday morning the 27th or Friday morning the 28th. That’s your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 6 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 17 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 253 | 119 | 86 | 190 | 458 | 494 | 311 | 215 | 521 | 373 | 312 | 212 | 216 | 137 | 461 | 252 | 321 | 225 | 227 | 214 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | on | off | cross | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:08AM1.05m | 7:04PM1.49m | 7:43AM1.13m | 7:41PM1.52m | 8:17AM1.20m | 8:17PM1.52m | 8:51AM1.27m | 8:53PM1.49m | 9:26AM1.33m | 9:31PM1.42m | 10:03AM1.37m | 10:12PM1.33m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:12AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.38m | 1:45AM0.18m | 1:20PM0.33m | 2:16AM0.14m | 2:00PM0.29m | 2:46AM0.12m | 2:41PM0.26m | 3:17AM0.12m | 3:23PM0.25m | 3:49AM0.14m | 4:09PM0.26m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — |
mm | 4 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 126 | 119 | 86 | 84 | 341 | 494 | 311 | 215 | 521 | 373 | 312 | 212 | 216 | 137 | 283 | 252 | 86 | 225 | 227 | 214 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | — | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 15 | 6 | 9 | — | 69 | 44 | 42 | 45 | 39 | 26 | 24 | 208 | 182 | 102 | 31 | 16 | 321 | 52 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | — | — | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 11 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | — | SSE 19 | S 12 | ENE 10 | SSE 16 | E 12 |
| kJ | 25 | 25 | 5 | — | — | 22 | 19 | 63 | 66 | 23 | — | 28 | 28 | 31 | — | 69 | 71 | 18 | 27 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | — | S 5 | S 6 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | S 9 | — | — | — | — | NE 4 |
| kJ | 253 | — | 28 | 190 | 458 | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 461 | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 0 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 123 | 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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