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

Righto, grab a coffee and settle in. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Shark Island (Cronulla) for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you—the start is a total write-off for a decent paddle.

We’re looking at a long, slow grind before anything really gets going. Sunday the 16th kicks things off with a 5ft SE swell, but the wind is a messy cross-shore and the combined energy is only a weak 277. It’s a no-go. That vibe sticks around for days. Monday the 17th drops to 2ft, and it’s raining with cross-onshore breeze. By Tuesday the 18th, we get a moment of glassy conditions in the morning with tiny 3ft ESE swell (energy 137), but it’s so ordinary you’ll be fighting for a dribble. That pattern of “surfable but very ordinary” pops up again on Wednesday morning the 19th (2ft, glassy), and then again on Sunday the 23rd (2ft, clean), but honestly, you’re not missing much. There’s a solid gap with no real recommendations until later.

Now, the real standout finally arrives on Tuesday the 25th. The afternoon session sees a jump to 4ft NE swell with a clean, light cross-offshore breeze. The energy climbs to a moderate 270, and things finally line up for proper waves. That’s your best bet of the first week, and it looks like a proper window of good surf.

But if you can wait, hold out for Saturday the 29th of August. This is the absolute highlight of the entire outlook. Early morning, we get a 7ft ENE swell with glassy, offshore conditions and a solid energy reading of 685. That’s strong, punchy, and clean—this is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 5ft and into expert territory at 7ft. The swell direction is bang on for the optimum SE angle for Shark Island. It’s a reef break that’s fairly consistent, so expect a crew—crowds are "sometimes" around here. This one has real potential to be a cracker, though it’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.

After that, Sunday the 30th drops back to 3ft with offshore wind, but it’s ordinary again.

The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is 3° colder than normal for this time of year—a bit of a bite to it, so don’t forget the booties.

Overall, the first week is a waiting game, with Tuesday the 25th being the first real taste. The crown jewel is that Saturday morning on the 29th, if the forecasts hold. For the rest, it’s mostly skinny. Rusty out.

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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