Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with 426 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s headed for Thirroul over the next couple of weeks.
It’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s a couple of real gems in the mix. The overall pattern is small, clean windows early on, then a big, long-period pulse at the very end of the month. The standout is definitely the last day of August.
Sunday the 23rd, the morning is your best bet. A 4ft S swell, period around 8 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze from the NNW. The combined energy is moderate at 215, and it’s clean. Not big, but rideable. The afternoon gets wrecked by a 20 km/h NNE crosswind and a dropping 2ft S swell, so morning only.
Monday the 24th, same deal. Early morning offers a 2ft S swell with a 10-second period and a light N cross-off – clean but small. Combined energy 173. Afternoon is blown out by a 20 km/h NE crosswind. Not much to write home about.
Tuesday the 25th, the morning is average with a 3ft ENE swell and a short 6-second period, but the afternoon comes alive. A 5ft NE swell pushes in, period 7 seconds, and combined energy hits 345. The wind is a light N cross-off, so it’s clean. That’s the best of the early week, but it’s short-period, so don’t expect perfect shape.
Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are mixed. Wednesday is messy. Thursday morning, though, is a cracker. Glassy conditions, a 4ft S swell with a 10-second period, and combined energy of 364. That’s a clean, solid southerly groundswell – get in the water.
Friday the 28th morning is another gem. Glassy again, 4ft S swell, 11-second period, and combined energy of 458. Solid, moderate energy southerly groundswell with clean conditions. Water temp is about average for the season. This is the best session of the first week.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th drop off. Smaller swells, onshore winds, poor quality. Sunday the 30th morning has a 4ft S swell but with a light cross-on, so it’s borderline.
Now for the big one. Monday the 31st of August morning. A 3ft SSE swell with a massive 19-second period. That’s a very long-period groundswell. Combined energy is a strong 716. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNW, so it’s clean. This is a serious energy swell, but with that period, it’ll be best suited to the point and reef sections at Thirroul – the beach break might be a bit too straight. This is the standout. It’s a week out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s promising.
Tuesday the 1st of September morning has a 3ft SSE swell, 12-second period, with a WNW offshore breeze. Combined energy 280. Clean and workable.
From Wednesday the 2nd through to Sunday the 7th, the surf fades. Swells drop under 3ft, periods shorten, and the winds are mixed. There are a few clean windows, but the energy is low (often under 137). The 4th of September Friday morning has a 2ft S swell with a 12-second period and a clean cross-off, but it’s small. The 5th of September Saturday morning has a 4ft S swell but with a cross-breeze, making it marginal.
So, the best calls: Friday the 28th morning for a clean, solid southerly, and the big one – Monday the 31st of August morning for that long-period SSE groundswell. That’s the one to lock in. Stay patient, and don’t miss it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | S 8 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
157 | 161 | 134 | 158 | 90 | 67 | 67 | 51 | 194 | 117 | 106 | 171 | 325 | 307 | 207 | 183 | 396 | 245 | 154 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:57AM0.87m | 4:57PM1.32m | 5:49AM0.92m | 5:45PM1.38m | 6:31AM0.99m | 6:26PM1.45m | 7:08AM1.06m | 7:04PM1.50m | 7:42AM1.13m | 7:41PM1.53m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:16PM1.53m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:09PM0.43m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.49m | 00:37AM0.30m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.23m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:44AM0.17m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:45AM0.11m | ||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 |
157 | 161 | 71 | 158 | 90 | 67 | 67 | 51 | 102 | 117 | 106 | 82 | 325 | 307 | 207 | 183 | 396 | 245 | 154 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SSE 16 | S 12 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | S 18 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | — | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
6 | 48 | 134 | 8 | 23 | 6 | 46 | 26 | 25 | 14 | 9 | — | 62 | 52 | 42 | 172 | 62 | 45 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | NE 6 | — | S 18 | ENE 8 | E 13 | — | ENE 10 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | — | — | S 16 | S 13 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 4 |
1 | 6 | — | 6 | 7 | 3 | — | 9 | 24 | 26 | 5 | — | — | 5 | 82 | 90 | — | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | NNW 2 | NE 7 | — | S 4 | SSE 7 | — | — | E 3 | — | — | E 3 | — |
— | — | 18 | 23 | 53 | 49 | — | 1 | 194 | — | 22 | 171 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 2 |
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.











