Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,084 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with S 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 2.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the Cowries forecast for the next couple weeks.
First, the water temp is running about average for this time of year at 64°F, nothing unusual there.
The first week kicks off slow. Sunday morning has some ankle-to-knee high surf at 3ft from the SSW, but it’s nothing to write home about. Things pick up Tuesday, 8th September. Tuesday morning at Cowries serves up a solid 8ft groundswell from the S with a 9-second period and clean offshore wind. The wave energy is strong, so there's plenty of grunt. Because this is a reef and point break, that longer period swell will wrap in real nice. But that 8ft is big, so it’s experts only. Busy lineups are possible here.
The middle of the week is mostly a bust with poor or marginal conditions, but Saturday, 12th September morning is the real highlight of the first week. The swell is a more comfortable 6ft from the SSE, with a nice 11-second period and glassy conditions. That means smooth, clean faces. This is your best bet for a solid, fun session without the crowd-frenzy.
Things go quiet again from the 13th through the 16th, with almost nothing worth paddling out for.
Looking into the second week, there’s a big event on the 18th of September. A massive 16ft S swell is predicted, but it’s too big for this spot, even in the afternoon. However, Saturday, 19th September morning cleans right up. The swell eases to a powerful 8ft from the SSE, with a 12-second period and glassy conditions again. The energy is through the roof. This is top-tier for experienced surfers, but it’s still a heavy session.
The rest of the window fades into smaller, choppier junk. So, for the best windows, lock in Saturday, 12th September morning for cleaner, smaller waves, or Saturday, 19th September morning if you want to charge some serious, clean swell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Mon morning, fresh winds from the S by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SE by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SE 10 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 580 | 349 | 238 | 231 | 924 | 575 | 460 | 215 | 153 | 775 | 1839 | 1662 | 1109 | 1489 | 698 | 657 | 523 | 541 | 356 | 177 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:00AM1.00m | 4:59PM1.53m | 5:58AM1.09m | 5:56PM1.59m | 6:46AM1.18m | 6:46PM1.62m | 7:29AM1.27m | 7:33PM1.61m | 8:09AM1.34m | 8:16PM1.55m | 8:47AM1.40m | 8:58PM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:57PM0.22m | 10:24AM0.42m | 11:54PM0.14m | 11:28AM0.35m | 00:42AM0.07m | 12:24PM0.28m | 1:24AM0.04m | 1:15PM0.22m | 2:02AM0.04m | 2:03PM0.18m | 2:38AM0.07m | 2:49PM0.17m | 3:11AM0.13m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SE 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SSE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | S 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 7 | 349 | 238 | 231 | 9 | 575 | 460 | 215 | 153 | 35 | 42 | 1115 | 18 | 998 | 698 | 657 | 523 | 541 | 356 | 177 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 10 | SSE 10 | S 8 | NE 8 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 7 | E 10 | E 9 | S 25 | ESE 10 | SSE 22 | ESE 9 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | ENE 14 |
| kJ | 9 | 8 | 71 | 115 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 54 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 34 | 94 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 33 | 57 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 6 | NE 8 | E 10 | — | — | N 9 | E 10 | E 15 | S 19 | — | SSE 22 | E 16 | S 22 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | 2 | 8 | 4 | 7 | — | 48 | 5 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 19 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | NW 2 | SW 3 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 |
| kJ | 580 | — | — | — | 924 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 775 | 1839 | 1662 | 1109 | 1489 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 668 | 0 | 3 | 287 | 90 | 2 | 69 | 0 | 57 | 910 | 10 | 10 | 159 | 0 | 10 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 69 |
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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