Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, S swell with 702 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) 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 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this stretch of coast is looking pretty ordinary for the next week or two. Thirroul’s a solid beach and reef setup, exposed to the south-east, but there’s just not much push behind the swell for most of the run. The water’s about average for late August, nothing weird going on temperature-wise.
We’ve got a bit of a pulse coming in on Thursday morning, August 27 – a 7ft south swell at 9 seconds. That’s the biggest of the whole outlook, with strong wave energy (1317), but the wind is a light cross-shore from the SSW. The wave comment says it’s marginal, and with that short period it’ll be a bit fat and wobbly. Not the day to get excited.
Friday morning August 28 drops to 5ft from the SSE with a longer 11-second period, moderate energy (597). Light cross-shore again, but the wave comment still calls it marginal. By Friday afternoon the onshore picks up and it’s choppy – no good.
Saturday August 29 is small and messy, 4ft with a cross-on breeze. Sunday August 30 morning is glassy, calm wind, but the swell is only 3ft from the south – it’ll be clean but tiny. If you’re desperate for a longboard paddle, it’s your window.
Then there’s a real dry spell. Monday August 31 morning has a tiny 2ft SSE groundswell with a 16-second period – long gaps between sets, and with that period it’ll break pretty straight on a beach setup. Not worth suiting up for. From there, we’re looking at days of barely 1ft to 2ft, clean offshore winds but zero push. The combined energy dips into the two-digit numbers (57, 64, 50), which is basically flat. That gap of poor-to-no surf runs from August 31 all the way through to September 8.
Finally, on Wednesday September 9, we get a bit of hope. Morning session shows a 5ft SSW swell at 10 seconds, with a light cross-offshore wind and clean conditions. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions” and energy is a solid 755. That’s the standout of the whole 16-day window. For Thirroul, that’s the morning to aim for. The swell direction is south-southwest, which is a touch off the optimum SE, but it’s still the best we’ll see. After that, the afternoon turns onshore and it’s over.
So bottom line: hang tight for the morning of September 9, and maybe have a paddle on Sunday August 30 if you’re jonesing. The rest is a write-off.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 16 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
412 | 702 | 297 | 256 | 511 | 394 | 255 | 286 | 168 | 134 | 97 | 123 | 125 | 155 | 103 | 69 | 127 | 112 | 50 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 7:42AM1.13m | 7:41PM1.53m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:16PM1.53m | 8:51AM1.27m | 8:52PM1.50m | 9:26AM1.33m | 9:30PM1.43m | 10:03AM1.38m | 10:11PM1.34m | 10:43AM1.41m | 10:56PM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:44AM0.17m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:45AM0.11m | 2:40PM0.25m | 3:16AM0.11m | 3:22PM0.25m | 3:48AM0.13m | 4:08PM0.25m | 4:22AM0.18m | 4:58PM0.28m | |||||||
— | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 26 | 25 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 22 | 23 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 8 | SE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
286 | 549 | 297 | 130 | 511 | 394 | 255 | 286 | 133 | 134 | 97 | 123 | 125 | 113 | 103 | 55 | 127 | 112 | 50 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 8 | SSE 10 | S 8 | SE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | NE 6 |
69 | 44 | 24 | 256 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 171 | 168 | 84 | 90 | 25 | 14 | 155 | 100 | 69 | 15 | 39 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | ENE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | S 10 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 16 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | NE 12 | ENE 10 |
5 | 22 | 37 | 44 | 59 | 40 | 34 | 18 | 28 | 31 | 26 | 21 | 51 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 9 | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NW 2 |
412 | 702 | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 79 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 0 | 5 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











