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: Sunday 6 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, S swell with 414 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 7PM (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 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. 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 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
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 comin’ for the next couple of weeks here at Thirroul.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The first couple of days are pretty ordinary – surfable, sure, but nothing to write home about. A bit of clean-ish swell around 3 ft from the south with light offshores on Tuesday morning and afternoon is about as good as it gets early on, but the energy is weak to moderate (176 to 233 in the water), and the period is middling. It’s not gonna be a total washout, but you won’t be bragging about it either. Wednesday and Thursday fade out even more, with dropping swell and small 1 ft to 2 ft waves, so don’t get your hopes up.
Friday the 4th of September morning actually offers a glimmer – 3 ft south swell with a nice long 12-second period and clean offshore wind from the WNW. Combined energy is moderate at 192, and the wave quality is decent. It’s the pick of the first week, but still only modest.
Then we hit a proper lull – Saturday and Sunday are pretty small and weak, with energy under 100 for most. But hold up: Sunday the 6th of September morning is a standout. Glassy conditions, a light north-easterly breeze, and a bump in swell to 5 ft from the south with moderate energy (307) and clean lines. That morning session will be worth paddling out for – clean, glassy, and with a bit more punch. The afternoon gets chopped up by a cross-shore NE breeze, so get in early.
After that, the forecast goes real average again – a few days of weak, short-period slop and onshore junk. By Wednesday the 9th, the wind cranks up from the south at 28 mph with rain, and the swell jumps to 8 ft but it’s a messy cross-shore mess – poor quality, blown out. The combined energy jumps to 964, but don’t be fooled, that’s just wild, lumpy power. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th stay ugly with strong onshore winds and rain – forget it.
There’s a long gap of almost no decent surf from Monday the 7th right through to Sunday the 13th. Then finally, Monday the 14th of September morning gives us a clean-up – light N cross-off breeze, 4 ft south-south-east swell with moderate energy (414), and clean conditions. It’s worth a look after such a bleak stretch, but the swell period is short (8 seconds), so it’ll be a bit crumbly.
The last couple of days drift back into junk – small, short-period, and onshore. All up, the standout is Sunday the 6th of September morning: glassy, 5 ft south swell, and clean. The backup is Friday the 4th morning for the long-period south swell, but it’s smaller. Crowds are possible at Thirroul, so keep your eyes open.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 12 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | NE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
113 | 106 | 101 | 149 | 138 | 98 | 75 | 73 | 49 | 55 | 34 | 33 | 175 | 84 | 133 | 57 | 39 | 25 | 297 | 98 | 58 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:03AM1.38m | 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 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 14 | 25 | 26 | 17 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 13 | 21 | 23 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 12 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | NE 5 |
113 | 106 | 101 | 149 | 138 | 98 | 75 | 73 | 49 | 55 | 34 | 33 | 175 | 84 | 133 | 57 | 39 | 25 | 297 | 98 | 25 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 15 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 10 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | S 11 |
43 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SSE 16 | NE 4 | E 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 12 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | NE 6 | SE 16 | S 7 |
17 | 50 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 28 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNW 2 | — | — | NW 2 | WNW 3 | WSW 3 | W 2 | — | NE 3 | — | NNE 5 | — | S 3 | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 |
— | — | — | 2 | 56 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | — | 26 | — | 5 | — | 11 | 58 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 98 | 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.











