Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, NE swell with 474 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thirroul this week:
The surf forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Thirroul over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. The first few days are pretty flat and underwhelming. We’ve got some small, weak pulses of south swell, but nothing that’s going to get the heart racing. The real action, the standout, doesn’t show up until the second week. Hang tight.
Monday 31st August – Thirroul is a bit of a letdown. Only 2.6ft of south swell, but it’s a short period 9 seconds and the wind is a cross-on from the NE at 9 mph. The water’s sitting at 63.5°, bang on average for this time of year, but the surf is just poor. Combined wave energy is weak at 172.
Tuesday 1st September – The morning cleans up with a light NNW breeze at 6 mph, feeling cross-off. Still only 2.6ft of south swell, but the period pushes to 11 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. The water’s still the same. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The afternoon keeps the same size, with a north wind at 6 mph, and the energy bumps up to 253. It’s clean, but still small.
Wednesday 2nd September – A drop to 2ft of south swell, 10-second period. Mornings see a light offshore from the NW at 9 mph, making for clean little waves. Combined energy is a weak 115. Afternoon stays the same size with a WSW cross-off at 9 mph. Still very ordinary.
Thursday 3rd September – Swell drops further to 1.6ft, and by the afternoon it’s 1.3ft from the SSE. Energy is down to 85 and 68. The wind is offshore from the W at 12-16 mph, so it’s clean, but there’s barely a ripple to surf.
Friday 4th September – A tiny 2ft of south swell, 9-second period. Morning has a light NW cross-off at 6 mph, energy at 107. Afternoon goes to crap with a NE cross-shore at 16 mph, making it choppy. Poor.
Saturday 5th September – 1.6ft of south swell, 9-second period. Offshore from the NW at 16 mph in the morning, clean but tiny. Energy is a miserable 62. Afternoon is even smaller at 1.3ft. Not worth paddling out.
Sunday 6th September – Now this is something. The morning is glassy with zero wind, and we get a bump to 3.9ft of south swell, 9-second period. The energy jumps to 244. It’s clean, it’s glassy, and it’s the first real window of decent surf. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few locals out, but it’s worth it. This is the best of the early period.
Monday 7th September – A mixed bag. 3.9ft from the NE with a 6-second period – that’s short period junk. Morning wind is cross-off from the N at 9 mph, but the energy is 229. It’s marginal. The afternoon is 3ft from the ENE, still short period. Not great.
Tuesday 8th September – 3.9ft from the ENE, again with a short period of 7-9 seconds. Winds are cross or cross-on from the SSE. Energy is moderate at 230-304, but the quality is poor. Kite surfers might be having more fun here than paddle surfers with this setup.
Wednesday 9th September – Whoa, big change. The morning sees a massive jump to 14.8ft from the SSE, 10-second period. The combined energy is a powerful 4801. This is heavy, dangerous surf. The wind is light onshore from the SE at 6 mph. Only for experts. This is way too big for beginners. The afternoon stays at 14.8ft, 11-second period, with a light cross-on. Still huge.
Thursday 10th September – This is the true standout of the entire forecast. The morning is glassy, with 11.5ft of SE swell,
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat morning, calm by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
106 | 101 | 149 | 138 | 98 | 77 | 73 | 49 | 55 | 34 | 50 | 53 | 45 | 141 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 230 | 98 | 71 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:11PM1.34m | 10:43AM1.41m | 10:56PM1.23m | 11:28AM1.41m | 11:50PM1.11m | 12:22PM1.41m | 00:56AM1.01m | 1:27PM1.40m | 2:19AM0.94m | 2:40PM1.42m | 3:46AM0.95m | 3:54PM1.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:08PM0.25m | 4:22AM0.18m | 4:58PM0.28m | 5:01AM0.25m | 5:55PM0.31m | 5:45AM0.32m | 7:04PM0.34m | 6:40AM0.40m | 8:25PM0.34m | 7:50AM0.45m | 9:47PM0.30m | 9:09AM0.46m | 10:57PM0.22m | |||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 26 | 25 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 |
106 | 101 | 149 | 138 | 98 | 77 | 73 | 49 | 55 | 34 | 50 | 53 | 45 | 141 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 230 | 98 | 39 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 5 |
16 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 15 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 46 | 27 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | E 13 | E 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 7 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 12 |
50 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 71 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NNW 2 | NW 3 | NE 6 | NW 2 | WNW 2 | WSW 3 | W 3 | — | ENE 3 | NNE 5 | NW 2 | W 3 | WSW 2 | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 |
— | 2 | 1 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | 6 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 33 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 94 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thirroul Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thirroul provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thirroul can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thirroul 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 (Thirroul) 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 Thirroul 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Illawarra? If you are looking for accommodation near Thirroul, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Illawarra, consider staying in Wollongong which is 12 km (7 miles) away. Other places in and around Illawarra where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Port Kembla which is 19 km (12 miles) away, Engadine, Cronulla and Caringbah.











