Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, S swell with 269 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s 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 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 1.1m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what’s happening at Thirroul.
We’ve got a real mixed bag ahead. For the first few days, it’s mostly tiny and messy, so don’t get your hopes up too high just yet. The water temp is sitting around 64°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.
Starting from Saturday, August 22, the swell is a weak 1.0ft from the NE with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 14 – barely a ripple. With a cross-off wind from the WSW at 12 mph, it’s clean enough but there’s just nothing to ride. Sunday morning, August 23, shows a slight lift to 3ft from the south, period of 8 seconds, and energy of 178. It’s surfable but very ordinary. The wind is a light NNW cross-off, so it’s clean, but the quality isn’t there.
The pattern of small, average surf continues through the week. Monday and Tuesday mornings have similar 2ft to 4ft swells from the NE and S, with cross-off winds, but the wave comment keeps calling it “very ordinary conditions.” Thursday morning, August 27, sees a bit more push with a 4ft south swell (period 7 seconds) and energy hitting 324, but it’s a cross-shore wind, so it’s not going to be clean.
Now, the standout – and it’s the only real highlight in the whole window – is Sunday morning, August 30. We’ve got a 3ft south swell, period of 9 seconds, energy of 247, and the wind is glassy from the east. That’s the recipe for clean, fun waves. The break is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the swell, and the optimum swell direction is SE, so the south swell is working well here. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and rideable. The rest of the weekend and the following week is pretty average, with small swells, often poor conditions, and plenty of mornings with onshore wind. There’s a bit of activity on September 3 with a 3ft to 3ft south groundswell, period up to 11 seconds, energy around 305, and clean cross-off winds – but it’s still just marginal.
Overall, the best bet is that glassy Sunday morning on the 30th. The rest is mostly small, ordinary, or onshore. If you’re keen, keep an eye on the long-range for September 3, but it’s early days.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 8 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 85 | 127 | 171 | 158 | 90 | 70 | 64 | 85 | 51 | 112 | 101 | 112 | 240 | 153 | 94 | 82 | 82 | 78 | 84 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:00PM1.27m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 21 | 14 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 19 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | S 9 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 85 | 127 | 71 | 158 | 90 | 70 | 44 | 39 | 24 | 112 | 101 | 112 | 161 | 113 | 94 | 63 | 82 | 78 | 84 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 16 | S 12 | ENE 4 | ENE 8 | E 13 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 9 | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 2 | 47 | 171 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 64 | 40 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 82 | 56 | 76 | 82 | 52 | 24 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | — | ENE 9 | E 13 | E 13 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 9 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | — | 8 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | — | — | NE 6 | NNW 3 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | — | NE 6 | ENE 6 | — | — | SSE 4 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 5 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | 14 | 37 | — | 85 | 51 | — | — | 25 | 240 | 153 | — | — | — | 3 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 247 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 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.
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