Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.06° S 151.16° E

Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shark Island (Cronulla) sea temperature is
16.0° C
1.7° 

Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, S swell with 332 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with SE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Shark Island (Cronulla) this week:

The surf forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Shark Island (Cronulla) in the next 16 days are 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) 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 0.8m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 18th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf 4AM (Tue 18th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Most Powerful10PM (Sat 22nd Aug)5ft (1.5m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s cut through it: this stretch of coast is looking pretty starved for a while. The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t roll in until the morning of Sunday the 23rd, and even then it’s not a classic—but it’s the pick of a pretty ordinary lot. Before that, you’ve got a week of small, bumpy leftovers, mostly under 3 feet and stirred up. Not worth getting wet for, unless you just want to sit out there and watch the clouds.

Shark Island (Cronulla) – it’s a reef set-up, so it needs some size and the right direction. The water’s at 61°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year—about 3° off the long-term mark, so grab the thick wetsuit. The Sunday the 16th is a write-off: 5 feet of short-period slop from the southeast, cross-shore wind, and poor conditions. A zero on the rating says it all.

The tail end of that week sees some glassy moments—Tuesday the 18th morning has a light easterly and glassy surface—but there’s barely any energy: only about 3 feet of short-period swell. You might find a few grovelly ones, but it’s not worth the drive. Through to Friday the 21st, it stays tiny and mostly cross or onshore. The combined energy’s weak—numbers in the 60s and 80s (62–81) tell you there’s nothing behind it.

Then Saturday the 22nd afternoon gets interesting for a second: the swell jumps to 7 feet from the south, with a strong 35 km/h south wind and combined energy reading 474. But it’s raw and lumpy—the wind’s howling, the period’s only 7 seconds, and this beach-reef set-up is going to be a washing machine. Not a surf day; honestly, that’s more kite-surfing weather than anything else.

Here’s the one to circle: Sunday morning the 23rd of August. Early light westerly, clean, and the swell’s still there—5 feet from the south, 9-second period, and combined energy of 326. That’s the standout. It’s not big, but it’s clean, and the south direction matches what this spot wants. The rating’s decent, but the crowd factor’s real: it can get busy at Shark Island, so be ready for company. Conditions are fair, though, and it’s the best you’ll see for a while.

The following week is a different story. Tuesday the 25th kicks up some serious size: 8 feet in the morning, jumping to over 8 feet by the afternoon, with a 12-second period and combined energy up at 1827—that’s strong, proper energy. The wind’s cross-off and clean, but this is big for this spot. Anything over 8 feet is expert territory, and a long-period south swell like that on a reef can be tricky and dangerous. It’s a “promising but not for the faint-hearted” situation. The Wednesday the 26th has a bit more swell (6 feet) with offshore wind, but the period drops to 10 seconds and it looks more marginal.

After that, it fades fast. By the 28th, we’re back to under 2 feet and it pretty much stays that way through to the end of the month. The long-range stuff—that Tuesday the 25th pulse—is worth keeping an eye on, but don’t book the week off work just yet.

So, bottom line: if you’re keen, get out early on the Sunday the 23rd for the cleanest, most user-friendly waves on offer. The big Tuesday’s for the crew with a death wish and the right boards. Otherwise, it’s flat and quiet, and that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

Stay salty,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
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
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SE
6
1.4
SSE
7
0.8
S
10
0.9
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
6
0.9
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
10
0.9
ESE
6
0.9
ESE
9
0.8
ESE
6
0.6
ESE
6
1.3
NE
6
0.7
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
7
0.5
ENE
7
1
SSE
6
1.2
S
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
167
170
141
83
74
71
70
66
100
80
70
137
55
30
101
39
29
36
26
82
190
Wind (km/h)
20
SE
15
SE
10
SE
10
ESE
15
ESE
5
ENE
5
NE
15
E
5
NW
5
NW
20
NE
10
NW
15
NNW
10
W
10
NW
5
NNE
25
WNW
10
WNW
25
WSW
35
S
25
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:46AM1.37m
10:52PM1.38m
11:28AM1.37m
11:35PM1.22m
12:12PM1.34m
00:22AM1.08m
1:00PM1.31m
1:18AM0.96m
1:56PM1.28m
2:30AM0.88m
2:59PM1.27m
3:51AM0.87m
4:04PM1.30m
Low Tide
4:46PM0.29m
5:08AM0.21m
5:38PM0.36m
5:43AM0.31m
6:34PM0.43m
6:20AM0.40m
7:39PM0.49m
7:03AM0.48m
8:53PM0.51m
7:59AM0.54m
10:10PM0.50m
9:07AM0.57m
11:13PM0.45m
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:29
 mm
5
5
3
5
2
1
1
3
2
Temp °C
15
15
15
14
15
15
15
16
15
16
16
15
19
16
15
16
17
15
15
13
13
Feels °C
10
11
12
13
12
13
14
13
14
15
13
13
16
14
14
12
13
12
8
5
7
  • 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 Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Shark Island (Cronulla) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Shark Island (Cronulla) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Shark Island (Cronulla) 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 (Shark Island (Cronulla)) 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 Shark Island (Cronulla) 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.

Shark Island (Cronulla) is 2 km (1 miles) from Cronulla. If you plan a holiday in Sydney South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Cronulla. Cronulla has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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