Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with 396 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with NE 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s is also forecast. 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the surf over the next couple of weeks.
Alright, mate, let's be honest: the next week and a half is a bit of a write-off for Thirroul. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, messy, and mostly small conditions. Don't get your hopes up until we hit the last weekend of August and into the start of September.
We start off Friday, the 21st of August. The morning is small, with 3ft of swell from the ENE, but the wind is a clean offshore from the WNW at 6 mph. The wave energy is weak (59), so it's surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon picks up slightly to 3ft from the NE, but the wind drops to a light 3 mph offshore. It’s clean, but there's just no punch.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are a total write-off with tiny, poor surf. Saturday has a tiny 0.7ft swell, and even though Sunday afternoon has a nice 12-second period from the S, the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are poor. The next week, from Monday the 24th through to Friday the 28th, is a frustrating mix of cross-off and cross-shore winds with wave heights hovering around 2ft to 4ft. The energy is moderate (between 121 and 204), but the wind just won't cooperate to make it clean. The 27th of August does have a bit of energy (204) from a short-period S swell, but it's messy.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout window is the morning of Monday, the 31st of August. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the E with a 10-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW at 6 mph. The combined energy is moderate (364), and this is the first "expect good surf conditions" of the forecast. The water temp is around 65°F, which is about average for this time of year. This is your best bet for a proper session. Be aware, the afternoon turns to absolute rubbish with a 28 mph cross-onshore gale, so get in early.
The other one to keep an eye on is Thursday morning, the 3rd of September. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the NE with a short 7-second period, but the wind is a clean offshore from the N at 9 mph. The energy is moderate (374), and the conditions look clean. It’s a couple of weeks out, so treat it as promising but not locked in. The swell is a bit small for the point, but the offshore wind will make it look better than it is.
Overall, the crowds at Thirroul can be an issue when it's good, so expect a few heads out for that Monday morning session. The best peel will be on the reef. For the beachies, the long-period swell is a bit straight, but the reef should handle it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 8 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 8 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 56 | 76 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 60 | 165 | 130 | 164 | 125 | 80 | 69 | 159 | 96 | 126 | 131 | 181 | 111 | 215 | 171 | 388 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | off | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:47AM0.84m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:06PM0.48m | 9:01AM0.55m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 11 |
| kJ | 56 | 36 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 60 | 165 | 91 | 164 | 125 | 70 | 69 | 93 | 96 | 126 | 131 | 181 | 111 | 215 | 127 | 388 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 16 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 17 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | SSE 6 | S 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 130 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 44 | 27 | 26 | 13 | 9 | 28 | 55 | 90 | 92 | 72 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | — | SE 8 | S 6 | S 8 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 14 | SSE 17 | E 13 | S 17 | SSE 15 | S 16 | SE 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 11 | — | S 12 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 61 | — | 171 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 6 | W 3 | W 3 | — | SE 4 | — | NE 6 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | NE 7 | N 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | — | W 2 | — | — | NNE 3 |
| kJ | — | 76 | 3 | 1 | — | 14 | — | 9 | 7 | 19 | 80 | — | 159 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 157 | 338 | 247 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 436 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 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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