Thirroul Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.32° S 150.93° E

Thirroul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thirroul sea temperature is
18.0° C
0.6° 

Thirroul surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thirroul surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, SSE swell with 253 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with NE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s 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 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Thu 20th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s
Best Surf 4PM (Wed 26th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 6s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 26th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 6s

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 ahead for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, to be honest, the first week is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a real dry spell from now until the end of August, with the first decent opportunity not showing up until Friday the 28th of August. From Wednesday the 19th through to Thursday the 27th, it’s mostly poor surf conditions with tiny heights and choppy, messy wind. There’s a brief window on Thursday the 20th afternoon with a glassy 2 ft north swell, but it’s short period at 6 seconds and the energy is weak (62), so not really worth paddling out for anything special. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are flat and cross-shore, and Monday the 24th is ordinary too. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th bring some rain and building swell, but the wind is all wrong – cross and cross-on with heavy rain on the 26th, 31 mph from the SSW. That’s more kite-surfing weather than paddle surfing, and the waves are just messy.

Now, the standout of the whole outlook is Friday the 28th of August morning at Thirroul (beach and reef). This is the pick of the bunch. The water is sitting at 64°, which is about average for the time of year with a 1° anomaly – nothing unusual. The swell is 3 ft from the south with a 10-second period, giving moderate energy (206). The wind is light and offshore from the NW at 3 mph, so it’ll be clean and glassy. The guidance says the optimum swell direction is SE, and while the swell is coming from the south, it’s close enough to work well here. It’s a fairly consistent spot, and with the offshore wind, it’ll be a sweet morning session. Crowds are “sometimes” a thing, but with the conditions this good, it might be worth getting in early.

Saturday the 29th is a letdown – glassy morning but tiny 1 ft SSE swell with weak energy (71), and then the afternoon gets cross-on and messy. Sunday the 30th sees a big jump in swell height – 7 ft and 8 ft from the south – but the wind is cross-on from the ENE at 9 mph, so it’s choppy and marginal. The wave energy is very strong (749 and 1568), but the surface is messy. That’s more for experts if they’re keen, but it’s not clean.

The second week gets wild. Monday the 31st of August morning has 12 ft SSE swell at 12 seconds, but the wind is 12 mph cross-on from the ENE, making it choppy and poor. The energy is massive (3744). By Monday afternoon, the swell hits 16 ft from the south at 14 seconds, with very strong energy (13945), but again cross-on wind. This is big, powerful groundswell – long-period, 14 seconds – so it’ll be breaking heavy and could be a handful. It’s a beach and reef setup, so the long period might make the beach breaks a bit fat and walled, but the reef could handle it. Only for experts, and even then, it’s marginal. Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd keep the big swell going – 15 ft and 12 ft – with similar cross-on wind, so it’s more of the same. Thursday the 3rd sees the swell drop to 7 ft and 6 ft, but the wind is still cross-on, so no real clean windows.

In summary, the clear winner is Friday the 28th of August morning. Everything else is a struggle, especially the first week. If you’re game and experienced, the big swell at the end of August and into September has power, but the wind is going to make it a battle.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
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)
1.4
NE
6
0.7
ENE
6
1
NE
6
0.9
ENE
6
0.8
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.2
S
9
0.4
SSE
5
0.2
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
7
0.4
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.6
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.6
ENE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
114
37
62
59
48
26
13
6
7
8
78
33
31
61
72
64
58
33
52
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
WNW
5
NW
15
WNW
5
W
10
W
10
ESE
10
WSW
0
NW
15
NE
10
NW
10
NW
5
WSW
5
W
5
SSE
10
S
20
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
glassy
off
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
1:14AM0.93m
1:51PM1.26m
2:26AM0.86m
2:55PM1.25m
3:47AM0.84m
4:00PM1.27m
4:57AM0.87m
4:57PM1.32m
5:49AM0.92m
5:45PM1.38m
6:31AM0.99m
6:26PM1.45m
Low Tide
6:58AM0.47m
8:49PM0.50m
7:53AM0.53m
10:06PM0.48m
9:01AM0.55m
11:09PM0.43m
10:09AM0.54m
11:58PM0.37m
11:07AM0.49m
00:37AM0.30m
11:56AM0.43m
1:12AM0.23m
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
 mm
3
13
15
13
Temp °C
14
21
19
16
20
20
15
20
17
13
15
16
13
23
23
16
13
13
13
Feels °C
13
18
17
15
18
17
13
18
15
12
14
13
12
20
21
14
13
12
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 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.

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