Surf Forecasts:
Shark Island (Cronulla) surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with 210 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period with NE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s is also forecast. 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 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM. 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 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wettie, let’s see what we’ve got for Shark Island (Cronulla). The water’s sitting at 62°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a touch nippy, so don’t forget the booties if you’re heading out early.
To be honest, the next few days are pretty grim. We’re looking at a dry spell starting from Wednesday the 19th of August with barely a ripple. The swell is tiny and messy, mostly under 3 feet, with weak wave energy readings that barely scratch 200. Winds are all over the shop, mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and it’s just not worth paddling out. Thursday and Friday stay flat and lumpy, with combined swell energy dropping to as low as 34 or 50, so don’t even bother. Saturday the 22nd sees a tiny 1-foot to 1-foot bump but with onshore or cross-onshore breezes. It’s a full week of nothing to get excited about – you’re better off waxing your board or watching the cams.
Now, things start to look up towards the end of next week. On Thursday morning the 27th of August, we get a clean window. The swell picks up to about 5 feet from the south, with a period of 8 seconds, and combined wave energy hitting 343 – that’s moderate energy but it’s real. The wind is light offshore from the west, so the waves should be clean and lined up. This is a proper window for the advanced crew. It’s not huge, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. The afternoon on that same day goes onshore, so the morning is your moment.
Then we get a bit of a lull again on the Friday and Saturday mornings with surfable but ordinary conditions – clean faces but small, around 4 feet.
But hold onto your board for the Saturday the 29th of August through to Monday the 31st. That’s where the real power shows up. Saturday morning sees a solid 8-foot south swell, jumping to 10 feet by the afternoon, with combined energy readings of 963 and then 1482 – that’s strong wave energy. Sunday the 30th keeps that 10-foot south swell going with a period of 10 to 11 seconds, and the combined energy blows past 2300 – that’s very strong. Monday the 31st still holds 8 feet from the south-southeast, with a long period of 11 seconds and energy at 1575.
Now, a word of caution – this is a reef break, and at over 8 feet these waves are strictly for experts. That long-period south swell (11 seconds) will wrap in nicely, but it can be tricky. The wind is mostly cross-offshore through this big swell window, so it should stay relatively clean, but the power is serious. If you’re not solid on a reef, sit this one out. For the experienced crew, this is the standout window of the whole 16-day outlook. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so expect company.
The first week is a write-off. The second week brings the goods, with the biggest, cleanest energy on Saturday 29th through Monday 31st. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it looks promising.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | E 6 | E 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 8 | S 5 | S 8 | S 8 | NE 5 | S 10 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
82 | 262 | 124 | 60 | 31 | 83 | 48 | 26 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 31 | 65 | 30 | 38 | 83 | 99 | 111 | 59 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:00PM1.31m | 1:18AM0.96m | 1:56PM1.28m | 2:30AM0.88m | 2:59PM1.27m | 3:51AM0.87m | 4:04PM1.30m | 5:01AM0.89m | 5:01PM1.35m | 5:53AM0.95m | 5:50PM1.41m | 6:35AM1.01m | 6:31PM1.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:39PM0.49m | 7:03AM0.48m | 8:53PM0.51m | 7:59AM0.54m | 10:10PM0.50m | 9:07AM0.57m | 11:13PM0.45m | 10:15AM0.55m | 00:02AM0.38m | 11:12AM0.51m | 00:42AM0.31m | 12:01PM0.44m | 1:16AM0.24m | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | S 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 4 | E 4 | S 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | S 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 |
60 | 6 | 68 | 29 | 23 | 83 | 48 | 26 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 31 | 42 | 22 | 15 | 41 | 99 | 111 | 59 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | — | SE 9 | ESE 8 | E 6 | S 12 | S 11 | SE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 5 | S 8 | S 16 | S 8 | S 10 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 6 |
82 | — | 81 | 43 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | — | S 11 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 16 | NE 9 | S 10 | S 15 | S 14 |
24 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 2 | SSW 5 | SSE 5 | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | — | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NNW 4 | WNW 3 | SSW 5 |
74 | 262 | 124 | 60 | 31 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 4 | 24 | — | — | 16 | 65 | — | 38 | 83 | 22 | 3 | 32 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 433 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 240 | 73 | 361 | 32 | 7 | 209 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











