Surf Forecasts:
Windang Island surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SSE swell with 98 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Windang Island this week:
The surf forecast for Windang Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Windang Island in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Windang Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at what’s on offer for us over the next couple of weeks. Honestly, the first week and a half is a bit of a write-off, with barely any bump in the water. The real story here is a solid late-season groundswell that's set to arrive right at the end of the month and into early September, but you’ll need some patience and a bit of experience to handle it.
The main break to keep an eye on is Windang Island (Illawarra), a reef and point set-up that’s exposed to the swell and likes an offshore from the west. The water temp is sitting at 65°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
For the first week, from Thursday the 20th through to the end of the month, it’s a real flat spell. We’ve got a few brief windows of glassy conditions, like Sunday the 23rd morning with a weak 2 ft south swell and a combined energy of only 87, but it’s just too small and weak to get excited about. The wind is often going the wrong way, and the period is short, around 6 to 9 seconds, so there’s no real push. Expect a long stretch of small, ordinary surf until things start to change.
The standout period kicks off around Sunday the 30th of August. By morning, a moderate north cross-shore is blowing, but the swell is building to 6 ft from the NE with a period of 8 seconds and energy jumping to 379. It’s still a bit messy, but it’s a sign of things to come. By Monday the 31st morning, the wind swings light cross-off from the NNW and the swell is a solid 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 8 seconds and energy of 693. That’s when it starts to get really good, and the break will be clean and firing.
But the absolute best session in this entire outlook is Tuesday the 1st of September morning. We’ve got a solid 12 ft groundswell from the east, with a period of 10 seconds and a massive combined energy of 2207. The wind is offshore from the west at 12 mph, meaning clean, lined-up waves. This is expert territory, though – at over 8 ft, it’s only for those with serious experience, especially on a reef and point where the power will be concentrated. The period is moderate, so the sets won’t be too drawn out, but the energy is undeniable.
The surf stays good through the 2nd and 3rd, with the swell slowly dropping but still in the 5 ft to 8 ft range and clean conditions, especially on the 4th of September morning when it goes glassy with a 5 ft south-southeast swell. That would be a nice fun-size day for a wider range of surfers.
So, to sum it up: don’t bother with the first week and a half. Mark your calendar for Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 4th of September. The absolute standout is Tuesday the 1st of September morning – that’s your best shot at some serious, memorable waves, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | SSE 5 | NE 6 | S 9 | NE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 6 | S 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
61 | 30 | 78 | 50 | 26 | 13 | 20 | 14 | 5 | 76 | 62 | 30 | 41 | 64 | 41 | 55 | 56 | 68 | 86 | 87 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:52PM1.25m | 2:28AM0.86m | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:49AM0.84m | 3:59PM1.27m | 4:58AM0.87m | 4:56PM1.32m | 5:50AM0.92m | 5:44PM1.38m | 6:32AM0.98m | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:08AM1.05m | 7:04PM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:51PM0.49m | 7:55AM0.53m | 10:06PM0.48m | 9:02AM0.56m | 11:09PM0.43m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:38AM0.30m | 11:55AM0.44m | 1:12AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.38m | 1:45AM0.18m | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | S 9 | SSE 7 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
29 | 15 | 78 | 50 | 26 | 13 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 76 | 48 | 15 | 20 | 29 | 20 | 55 | 56 | 68 | 67 | 87 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 9 | S 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 16 | ENE 8 | NE 8 |
37 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 39 | 23 | 12 | 5 | 44 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | S 13 | — | S 11 | — | E 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 4 | S 17 | SSE 13 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | SE 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 16 | S 10 |
2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 35 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | WSW 3 | — | ESE 3 | — | — | NE 9 | N 3 | — | NE 6 | WSW 2 | — | SSW 3 | S 4 | SSE 6 | — | — |
61 | 30 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 62 | 1 | — | 64 | 1 | — | 3 | 17 | 86 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 130 | 13 | 302 | 132 | 0 | 152 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 94 | 14 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Windang Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Windang Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Windang Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Windang Island 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 (Windang Island) 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 Windang Island 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.
Windang Island is 7 km (4 miles) from the city of Port Kembla. If you plan a holiday in Illawarra, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Kembla. Port Kembla has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











