Surf Forecasts:
Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with 423 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with S 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shark Island (Cronulla) in the next 16 days are 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Shark Island (Cronulla) for the next couple of weeks. It’s a tricky stretch ahead, with a few serious pulses of energy but the wind is going to be our biggest fight. Let’s get into it.
The first week is mostly a write-off. We’ve got a few days of tiny, weak swell and poor conditions. From Tuesday the 1st to Saturday the 5th, there’s nothing worth suiting up for. The swell is all under 3 ft, mostly from the south, with energy sitting in the weak to moderate range (the numbers are low, like 225 down to 59). The wind is all over the shop – cross-on, cross-off, onshore – and it’s making the surface a mess. You’re better off doing something else.
Then, on Sunday the 6th of September, there’s a glimmer. The morning shows 5 ft of S swell with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a solid 549 – that’s moderate to strong. The wind is glassy, completely calm. This is the standout early in the period. The water temp is 63°, which is about average for this time of year, no drama there. For a reef break like this, that long period (11 seconds) and clean conditions will produce some proper, well-shaped lines. Just be aware, crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so get in early.
The middle of the week blows out again. Monday and Tuesday are a mess of cross-on and onshore winds, with the swell around 3 ft to 4 ft. Not worth it.
Then, we get to Wednesday the 9th of September. The afternoon session shows a solid 7 ft S swell, with strong energy (791), but it’s cross-off wind from the WNW at 12 mph. It’s clean, but the size is getting into the “too big for beginners” territory. The next day, Thursday the 10th, is a full-on beast. The swell jumps to 13 ft in the morning and 12 ft in the afternoon, with combined energy up in the thousands (2899 and 2184). That’s expert-only territory, and the wind is cross-on and cross – it’s going to be lumpy and messy. This is more of a spectacle than a paddle.
Now, the real highlight. Friday the 11th of September. The morning has 10 ft of SSE swell, with a very long period of 13 seconds, and energy is massive (3449). The wind is light cross-off, so it’s clean but a challenge. The afternoon, though, is the pick of the entire forecast. The wind goes dead calm – glassy. The swell is still 10 ft, period 13 seconds, and the energy is 2593. Conditions are “excellent for experienced surfers.” This is a proper groundswell event. For a reef point like Shark Island, that long period will carve up beautifully. Only experts should be out here, but if you’ve got the skills, this is the session. Crowds are a possibility given the quality.
Saturday the 12th is still big, with 12 ft and 8 ft, but the wind is howling – strong offshore in the morning (25 mph from the SSW) and then a strong cross-off in the afternoon. It’s clean but hard work.
The second week settles down. Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th have smaller, cleaner windows. The Monday morning glass-off with 5 ft from the ESE at 11 seconds is a nice, mellow option for the morning crew. The energy is 576 – solid. After that, it’s a mix of ordinary conditions and small swell through to Wednesday the 16th.
Bottom line: The best bet is the glassy morning of Sunday the 6th for a clean, fun session. The absolute standout is the afternoon of Friday the 11th – a true, big, clean groundswell for the experienced crew. The rest of the window is mostly a battle with the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Wed night, fresh winds from the WSW by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, strong winds from the WNW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
100 | 77 | 75 | 50 | 52 | 52 | 33 | 128 | 32 | 38 | 45 | 42 | 27 | 262 | 260 | 186 | 333 | 164 | 240 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:01PM1.26m | 11:33AM1.44m | 11:54PM1.14m | 12:27PM1.43m | 1:01AM1.04m | 1:31PM1.43m | 2:23AM0.97m | 2:45PM1.44m | 3:51AM0.97m | 3:59PM1.49m | 5:04AM1.03m | 5:04PM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:05AM0.26m | 6:00PM0.32m | 5:50AM0.33m | 7:08PM0.35m | 6:45AM0.41m | 8:29PM0.35m | 7:55AM0.47m | 9:51PM0.31m | 9:14AM0.47m | 11:01PM0.23m | 10:29AM0.43m | 11:58PM0.15m | |||||||
— | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 7 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 7 |
100 | 77 | 75 | 50 | 52 | 52 | 33 | 128 | 32 | 25 | 45 | 42 | 27 | 262 | 260 | 186 | 333 | 164 | 103 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 12 | S 11 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 8 |
12 | 12 | 33 | 19 | 13 | 11 | 19 | 19 | 27 | 38 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 71 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 6 | SSE 13 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 10 | NE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | NE 7 | NE 7 | — | — |
34 | 33 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | NW 2 | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 4 | SW 5 | ENE 7 | — | NNW 3 | WNW 4 | SW 2 | W 3 | SE 2 | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 7 |
2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 15 | 10 | — | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | 37 | 240 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 16 | 0 | 647 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











