Surf Forecasts:
Cowries surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with 426 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s 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 (Aug 23) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cowries in the next 16 days are 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cowries over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down the next couple of weeks at Cowries.
Right off the bat, the first few days are pretty flat and ugly. Don't bother wasting the gas. The first real chance to get wet won't come until later next week.
Your best bet, the one that really stands out, is Thursday morning, August 27th. We're looking at a clean 4ft swell from the south with glassy conditions. The combined energy is moderate, and it'll be dead clean. That's the session to circle on the calendar.
Friday morning, August 28th, is another solid option. Similar 4ft south swell, but with a little more period, giving it some proper push. The combined energy is strong, and with light offshore breezes, it'll be clean. That longer period might make it a bit too lined up for some beach breaks, but for a reef and point like Cowries, it should be great. Just expect a few more people out, it gets popular when it's clean.
Everything after that drops off a cliff. From Saturday the 30th through the whole first week of September, it's mostly small, weak, and messy. The second week is a write-off, with tiny waves and bad winds most days. The wave energy dips into the weak zone.
Water temp is pretty average for the season. So, aim for that Thursday or Friday morning. After that, the forecast is pretty quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | S 8 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 157 | 161 | 134 | 158 | 90 | 67 | 67 | 51 | 194 | 117 | 106 | 171 | 325 | 307 | 207 | 183 | 396 | 245 | 154 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:58AM0.87m | 4:56PM1.32m | 5:50AM0.92m | 5:44PM1.38m | 6:32AM0.98m | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:08AM1.05m | 7:04PM1.49m | 7:43AM1.13m | 7:41PM1.52m | 8:17AM1.20m | 8:17PM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:09PM0.43m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:38AM0.30m | 11:55AM0.44m | 1:12AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.38m | 1:45AM0.18m | 1:20PM0.33m | 2:16AM0.14m | 2:00PM0.29m | 2:46AM0.12m | ||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 157 | 161 | 71 | 158 | 90 | 67 | 67 | 51 | 102 | 117 | 106 | 82 | 325 | 307 | 207 | 183 | 396 | 245 | 154 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SSE 16 | S 12 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | S 18 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | — | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 6 | 48 | 134 | 8 | 23 | 6 | 46 | 26 | 25 | 14 | 9 | — | 62 | 52 | 42 | 172 | 62 | 45 | 44 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | NE 6 | — | S 18 | ENE 8 | E 13 | — | ENE 10 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | — | — | S 16 | S 13 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 6 | — | 6 | 7 | 3 | — | 9 | 24 | 26 | 5 | — | — | 5 | 82 | 90 | — | — | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | NNW 2 | NE 7 | — | S 4 | SSE 7 | — | — | E 3 | — | — | E 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 18 | 23 | 53 | 49 | — | 1 | 194 | — | 22 | 171 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 67 | 4 | 10 | 73 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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