Surf Forecasts:
Thirroul surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, S swell with 501 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s 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 16) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 18s. 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4PM. 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 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thirroul over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at the coming weeks for Thirroul.
First up, don’t get your hopes up for this weekend or the start of the new week. We’re in a bit of a flat, messy patch. Saturday the 15th has a weak 4ft swell from the SSE, but with a S wind blowing cross-onshore at 9 mph, it’s choppy and pretty ordinary. Sunday and Monday don’t offer any real improvement—small, short-period swell and persistent cross-onshore winds. This stretch is a write-off for a decent paddle.
We’ve got a gap of a few days with nothing really rideable. Things stay quiet through Tuesday the 18th and into early Wednesday, with barely a bump and very low energy (combined energy around 122-165).
Then, finally, a glimmer. Wednesday morning the 19th, we see a shift—wind goes glassy out of the WNW at just 3 mph. The swell is small, only 4ft from the SE with a short period of 6 seconds, but the conditions will be clean. It’s a small window, but it’s surfable.
Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st stay small with clean, cross-off winds, but the swell is tiny—2ft to 3ft. Not exactly pumping.
The real standout is shaping up for Saturday the 29th of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We’ve got a solid 8ft NE swell, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, making for clean, well-shaped waves. The combined energy is pumping at 1458—strong wave energy. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s well over 8ft. The swell direction (NE) isn’t a perfect match for the optimum SE direction, but the clean wind and size will make for proper waves. Expect crowds to be possible at this spot.
Before that, Friday the 28th also has some decent 7ft ENE swell with clean offshore winds, a good warm-up for the weekend.
After that, Sunday the 30th drops back down to 3ft with clean offshore winds—a nice, smaller end to the run.
Water temp is around 64°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
So, the long and short of it: the first week is a dud. The best bet by far is Saturday the 29th of August—big, clean, and for experienced crew only. Keep an eye on the forecasts leading into that.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 6 | ESE 6 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | S 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | SE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
223 | 203 | 81 | 90 | 149 | 125 | 79 | 66 | 68 | 55 | 61 | 107 | 97 | 75 | 169 | 55 | 43 | 60 | 27 | 32 | 15 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:01AM1.32m | 10:04PM1.51m | 10:42AM1.34m | 10:47PM1.35m | 11:24AM1.34m | 11:31PM1.20m | 12:07PM1.32m | 00:18AM1.05m | 12:56PM1.29m | 1:14AM0.93m | 1:51PM1.26m | 2:26AM0.86m | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:47AM0.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:52PM0.23m | 4:29AM0.10m | 4:42PM0.28m | 5:04AM0.20m | 5:34PM0.35m | 5:39AM0.29m | 6:30PM0.42m | 6:15AM0.39m | 7:35PM0.47m | 6:58AM0.47m | 8:49PM0.50m | 7:53AM0.53m | 10:06PM0.48m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SSE 18 | S 6 | S 7 | S 11 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 |
17 | 65 | 81 | 56 | 149 | 60 | 68 | 52 | 35 | 52 | 50 | 64 | 97 | 53 | 169 | 55 | 43 | 60 | 27 | 32 | 15 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 19 | ENE 9 | SSE 18 | S 8 | SSE 6 | S 10 | S 9 | ENE 10 | ESE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | E 9 | — | E 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 |
37 | 17 | 60 | 35 | 36 | 125 | 79 | 9 | 10 | 55 | 54 | 107 | 85 | 75 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | E 8 | ENE 10 | SSE 18 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | ESE 14 | S 10 | E 10 | S 8 | S 14 | — | S 13 | S 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
3 | 1 | 9 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 61 | 29 | 2 | 10 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | — | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | ESE 6 | — | — | NNW 2 | NE 4 | — | NNW 3 | — | W 3 |
223 | 203 | — | 90 | 61 | — | — | 66 | 68 | — | — | — | 82 | — | — | 1 | 15 | — | 3 | — | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 79 | 0 | 11 | 48 | 36 | 5 | 11 | 94 | 11 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 262 |
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.











