
Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, S swell with 4,093 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with ENE 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 (Jul 23) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s break down what Thirroul’s got cooking for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start but there’s some good juice coming.
No surf on Thursday the 23rd – just tiny 3ft ENE windswell with a scratchy cross-off wind. Friday the 24th shapes up better: clean 5ft south swell in the morning with light cross-off winds and moderate energy (336). The south groundswell has a 9-second period, so it’s got some shape. Friday afternoon goes onshore with ENE wind, so surf early. Saturday the 25th is a highlight: morning has offshore WNW winds on that solid 5ft south swell (11-second period, energy 456). Then Saturday afternoon the wind goes glassy at 3 mph from the southwest, waves drop to 3ft but super clean with 10-second period (energy 217). That’s fun, clean surf. Sunday the 26th morning is glassy again with light west winds, 5ft south swell and 11-second period (energy 463) – clean and consistent. Afternoon turns cross-on and gets marginal.
Monday the 27th is surfable but ordinary – 3ft dropping to 3ft. Tuesday the 28th goes tiny (1ft) with no energy. Wednesday the 29th is a mess: strong southerly winds at 19 mph cross-shore, with a lumpy 7ft spike in the afternoon but cross-choppy and ugly. That afternoon swell is short-period (9 seconds) but hefty energy (1109) – raw, not clean.
Thursday the 30th: a big southerly groundswell hits – 13ft at 12 seconds in the morning, energy very strong (7386). But wind is cross-shore at 16–19 mph, lumpy cross-chop. Experts only, and kite surfers will have more fun than paddle crew. Friday the 31st eases to 10ft in the morning (energy 2928) with light cross-winds, still marginal, dropping to 8ft in the afternoon but choppy.
Saturday the 1st of August is a standout. Morning glassy with light northwesterly winds, a solid 7ft south-east groundswell at 11 seconds (energy 1239). Clean, powerful, and for experienced surfers. Sunday the 2nd settles to 5ft with glassy morning winds (energy 421) – still clean and fun. Monday the 3rd goes small.
Second week: Tuesday the 4th morning has 5ft south swell with light offshore winds (energy 276) but short 7-second period. Wednesday the 5th afternoon is the call: 7ft south-east swell, 7-second period, with moderate cross-off winds and clean (energy 518). That’s punchy and fun. Thursday the 6th morning is 6ft with offshore winds and clean (energy 337). After that it fades.
Bottom line: best windows are Saturday the 25th morning and Sunday the 26th morning for clean, glassy south swell, and Saturday the 1st of August morning for a bigger, more powerful south-east groundswell under glassy skies – that’s the standout if you’ve got the skills. The big mid-week stuff around the 30th is for adrenaline junkies or kite surfers.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 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) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
103 | 94 | 73 | 210 | 306 | 528 | 876 | 434 | 208 | 350 | 457 | 346 | 217 | 158 | 92 | 31 | 9 | 14 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:00AM0.92m | 3:41PM1.30m | 4:12AM0.87m | 4:35PM1.33m | 5:17AM0.88m | 5:25PM1.37m | 6:11AM0.91m | 6:11PM1.42m | 6:56AM0.95m | 6:53PM1.48m | 7:36AM0.99m | 7:32PM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:45AM0.45m | 10:38PM0.47m | 9:39AM0.49m | 11:37PM0.42m | 10:35AM0.49m | 00:25AM0.36m | 11:28AM0.47m | 1:07AM0.30m | 12:15PM0.43m | 1:45AM0.24m | 12:58PM0.40m | 2:20AM0.20m | |||||||
— | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 18 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | NE 6 | NE 5 |
103 | 94 | 73 | 210 | 306 | 528 | 876 | 434 | 208 | 350 | 457 | 346 | 217 | 158 | 92 | 31 | 9 | 5 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SSE 15 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | SE 15 | SE 7 | NE 5 | S 9 | SE 14 |
8 | 7 | 14 | 45 | 29 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 7 | 172 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 9 | — | SE 8 | E 7 | SSE 18 | — | S 19 | E 9 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | SE 18 | NE 7 | SE 16 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 9 |
— | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 67 | — | 7 | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | 12 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | SW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | — | WNW 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NW 2 | W 3 | NW 3 |
1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 247 | 455 |
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.










