Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,367 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s 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 (Sep 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thirroul in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks at Thirroul. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.
The big news is a solid pulse of south swell that rolls in on Wednesday the 16th, but the wind is going to be a mess. We’re looking at a fresh, cross-shore wind hitting that 10ft south swell from a 10-second period. The water is sitting about average for this time of year, but with that much energy in the water (1948) and rough wind, it’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess. It's better suited for the more experienced lot if anyone’s game, but honestly, the conditions are poor.
We get a bit of a clean-up Thursday the 17th as the wind drops to a light breeze, but the swell backs off to 8ft from the SSE. It’s still a bit cross-shore and lumpy, so it’s only just surfable. By Friday morning the 18th, the stars align briefly. The swell drops to a clean 5ft from the SSE with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy. That’s your best window of the first week — clean lines at a spot that’s fairly consistent, though you might have to share it with a few others. The energy is moderate (414), but that’s a good sign for a fun, user-friendly wave. Beginners will be fine on this one.
After that, it’s a long, slow grind. Saturday the 19th through to the end of the month sees the swell drop to under 3ft, with very ordinary conditions and poor energy readings. We get a few clean moments with offshore winds on the 19th, 20th, and 24th, but the swell is just too small to get excited about.
Then we hit the end of the period. On Sunday the 27th of September, the afternoon brings a glassy 5ft wave from the northeast, but it's a short-period 7-second swell. The energy is moderate (228), and those short periods mean the wave won't have much push — it’ll be a bit fat and crumbly. The following Monday morning the 28th, the offshore wind picks up, keeping things clean as the swell holds around 5ft. It’s still that short-period, so it’s a marginal call at best. The rest of the run into October is all onshore wind and chop, so not worth the paddle.
Honestly, if you’ve got to pick a session, it’s that Friday the 18th morning. It’s the only time everything lines up for a clean, manageable wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 19 | S 10 | S 11 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1285 | 1940 | 1725 | 2183 | 920 | 554 | 366 | 348 | 259 | 139 | 83 | 60 | 47 | 116 | 69 | 50 | 233 | 202 | 99 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:00PM1.09m | 11:17AM1.36m | 11:46PM0.98m | 12:02PM1.30m | 00:43AM0.90m | 12:58PM1.25m | 1:57AM0.85m | 2:06PM1.22m | 3:21AM0.85m | 3:17PM1.23m | 4:28AM0.90m | 4:18PM1.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:47AM0.37m | 5:56PM0.37m | 5:23AM0.46m | 6:56PM0.43m | 6:08AM0.53m | 8:07PM0.47m | 7:08AM0.59m | 9:23PM0.47m | 8:26AM0.60m | 10:27PM0.42m | 9:42AM0.57m | 11:15PM0.36m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 28 | 28 | 18 | 27 | 27 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 26 | 24 | 13 | 24 | 26 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 14 | NE 12 | E 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 7 | S 10 | NE 4 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 920 | 554 | 366 | 348 | 259 | 139 | 83 | 60 | 47 | 116 | 26 | 47 | 1 | 202 | 99 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | — | E 15 | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SE 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | E 11 | SSE 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 4 | — | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 63 | 58 | 53 | 57 | 29 | 12 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 | 28 | 83 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | — | — | — | S 19 | S 19 | S 19 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | E 12 | S 20 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | E 12 | NE 5 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 5 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 69 | 50 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | WNW 3 | — | NE 4 | — | — | NE 3 | — | S 11 | — | — |
| kJ | 1285 | 1940 | 1725 | 2183 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | 233 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 824 | 658 | 39 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 48 | 48 |
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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