Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, S swell with 785 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. The next week and a half is gonna be a bit of a grind for surf, so temper your expectations. We have a small window of fun, but you gotta pick your moments.
The pattern sets up with a pulse of southerly energy flattening out pretty fast. There’s some size early, but the wind and conditions are mostly going to mess with it. The standout, if you can call it that, looks like Thursday the 27th, as the swell bumps to a solid 7ft with a 9-second period. The energy reads at 1185, which is strong, and there will be waves. But the morning wind is cross with a light breeze, and the afternoon turns a bit onshore with a cleaner look. Honestly, that morning session at Thirroul (New South Wales) is probably your best shot at something with a little push and some shape. It’s a beach-and-reef setup, so a long period is not the deal here, but it’s only 9 seconds, so it should hold up okay. It’s not huge, but it’s the most size on offer.
Don't get too excited though. Friday the 28th has similar size – around 5ft – but a longer period of 11 seconds and more cross-onshore wind, which will chop it up. Saturday looks like it’s dropping and turning messy.
Sunday the 30th is interesting. The water temp is 64°, and the anomaly is just 0.9°, so it’s pretty normal for late winter. The morning is glassy, dead calm, and the swell hangs in at around 3ft from the south. It's small, not great, but rideable on a bigger board. The afternoon dies off.
After that, the week rolls into a slow, declining trend. Swell drops below 3ft and just fades. Early next week from Monday the 1st, it's clean and cross-offshore morning, but you're fighting for little 2ft lines with a long 11-second interval. That’s a grovel. By the end of the first week and into the second, it just gets smaller. We’re looking at 1ft to 2ft and not much happening.
There is a bit of a pulse signal for the 8th of September, with a similar long-period S swell, but we’re talking maybe 3ft max and a lot of wind. It’s not worth the paddle.
So the long and short of it: if you have a window, Thursday morning the 27th is your wave. Just about everything else needs a bigger board and a bit of patience. There are going to be some clean mornings in the early part of next week, but it will be tiny. A few of those days could be a fun push, but not a highlight.
This is one of those runs where the surf isn't gone for long—it's just on a break. The south swells will swing back around. Hang loose.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 8 | SSE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
86 | 180 | 481 | 625 | 304 | 165 | 586 | 446 | 261 | 281 | 180 | 139 | 115 | 144 | 144 | 119 | 160 | 153 | 151 | 110 | 71 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | on | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:04PM1.50m | 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 | 12:39PM0.37m | 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 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 25 | 24 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 22 | 22 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | ENE 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 11 | ENE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
86 | 84 | 349 | 494 | 304 | 165 | 586 | 26 | 261 | 281 | 180 | 120 | 115 | 144 | 144 | 119 | 160 | 153 | 151 | 110 | 71 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 11 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | S 12 | NE 8 | S 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | NE 5 |
5 | 9 | 69 | 44 | 41 | 156 | 26 | 45 | 16 | 99 | 139 | 139 | 68 | 25 | 109 | 88 | 86 | 16 | 15 | 39 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | — | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | ENE 9 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 17 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 12 | ENE 12 | — | ENE 10 |
5 | 5 | — | 22 | 37 | 45 | 59 | 39 | 33 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 14 | — | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SSE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | — | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | N 3 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NW 2 |
49 | 180 | 481 | 625 | — | — | — | 446 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 0 | 5 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 6 | 40 | 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.











