Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. The only spot in the frame is Cowries, a reef and point break that’s fairly consistent. Water temp is sitting at 65°, which is about 1° warmer than average for this time of year – nothing wild, just a touch on the mild side.

To be straight with you, the first week or so is pretty underwhelming. From Thursday 20th August right through to the morning of Sunday 30th, there’s next to nothing worth paddling out for. The waves are small, the energy is weak – mostly under 100 (combined energy) – and the conditions are ordinary. A few mornings pop up with clean, glassy or offshore wind, like Saturday 23rd morning with a glassy 2 ft from the south, or Tuesday 25th morning with light rain and glassy 2 ft from the ENE. But the swell is just too small and weak to get excited about. It’s a long blank stretch, nearly a week and a half of poor surf.

Now, Sunday 30th August morning things start to change. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the NE, with combined energy hitting 379 (moderate), but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore and it’s choppy. Still not a good call. That afternoon, the swell builds to 8 ft from the NE, energy 1059, but it’s cross-shore and messy. Monday 31st has a 7 ft ENE swell in the morning with light cross-shore wind – marginal at best. By the afternoon, it’s 10 ft from the ENE with a nasty cross-onshore and energy over 2000 – too big and messy.

The real standout – and I mean the one to circle – is Tuesday 1st September. Morning sees a solid 12 ft swell from the east, period 10 seconds, with a moderate cross-offshore wind from the west, leaving clean conditions. The energy is massive at 2207. But here’s the thing: the guidance says the optimum swell direction here is ENE, and this is straight east, so it’s not perfect. More importantly, 12 ft is expert territory – way too big for beginners. The afternoon is similar, 12 ft east, light cross-shore, but again, it’s a big one. For experienced surfers, those east swells at a reef and point can be absolutely firing, but you’ll want to be on your game.

Wednesday 2nd September morning drops to 8 ft from the east, period 10 seconds, clean with a cross-offshore wind. Energy is still high at 1049. That’s a bit more manageable for strong intermediates, but still a solid, powerful groundswell.

Thursday 3rd September morning has a 5 ft east swell, 9-second period, clean with cross-offshore wind – that’s a better all-rounder, but not the big draw. Friday 4th September morning is glassy with a 5 ft SSE swell, 8-second period, and the afternoon stays glassy with 5 ft from the SSE. Those are clean, fun-size waves, but the swell direction isn’t the optimum ENE.

So, the pick of the whole forecast is Tuesday 1st September. That east swell with clean, offshore wind at Cowries is a proper session if you’ve got the chops. Just be aware it’s going to be a big one, and the swell direction isn’t the absolute best. The rest of the run has some clean moments but nothing that’ll blow your mind.

Rusty.

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