Surf Forecasts:
Cape Schanck surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,967 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Schanck this week:
The surf forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 18s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Schanck in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 15s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s brewing over the next couple of weeks for Cape Schanck. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, with the surf looking pretty average for the first few days, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The water temp is sitting at about 57°, which is a touch warmer than we’d normally expect for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus if you’re getting in.
The action really starts to look up on Sunday the 23rd. The morning’s a bit marginal with a clean 8ft swell from the SW, but it’s the Sunday afternoon that has me smiling. We’ve got a clean 7ft SW swell rolling in with light, offshore winds from the north. That’s a cracking combination for this advanced reef break. The combined energy is solid, sitting around 2045 (moderate to strong), and with that 13-second period, the sets will have some punch but will be well-spaced, making the paddle out manageable. This is the standout of the whole window – get in the water.
After that, the week gets a bit messy. Monday the 24th still has some clean, 5ft SW swell, but the wind picks up to a fresh 35 km/h from the NNW, which will chop things up. Tuesday and Wednesday are a write-off with strong onshore winds turning the 7-10ft SW swell into a lumpy, messy mess. Honestly, that Saturday the 22nd had a 10ft swell with 35 km/h onshore winds – that’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddler’s dream.
Looking further out, the following weekend (the 30th-31st) goes very quiet with tiny 0.3-2ft SW swells. Not worth the rubber. But then we get a flicker of hope. Tuesday the 1st of September morning shows a light, clean 2ft SW groundswell – small but clean and with light offshore winds, so a log might be the call. But the real promise in that second week is Wednesday the 2nd of September morning: a clean 6ft SW swell with a moderate N wind, and the energy is decent (1131). That’s a good option for the advanced crew if the earlier window doesn’t suit. The following Thursday afternoon also shows a 8ft SW swell, but with a fresh N wind it’ll be clean; worth a look but less certain given the distance out.
Overall, if you’re after the best, target Sunday the 23rd afternoon at Cape Schanck. The rest of the week is mostly a battle with the wind.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the S by Tue afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
222 | 219 | 693 | 606 | 1580 | 2725 | 3517 | 3110 | 1864 | 1387 | 1738 | 1063 | 938 | 721 | 1288 | 3832 | 2880 | 1657 | 1067 | 604 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:30PM1.60m | 5:26AM1.54m | 5:01PM1.53m | 6:06AM1.46m | 5:31PM1.45m | 6:51AM1.38m | 6:04PM1.37m | 7:47AM1.31m | 6:44PM1.29m | 8:59AM1.27m | 7:41PM1.21m | 10:20AM1.29m | 9:06PM1.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:58PM0.19m | 11:12AM0.62m | 11:33PM0.25m | 11:48AM0.71m | 00:11AM0.32m | 12:26PM0.81m | 00:53AM0.40m | 1:16PM0.89m | 1:46AM0.46m | 2:29PM0.95m | 2:53AM0.50m | 4:09PM0.95m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
116 | 175 | 693 | 606 | 1580 | 3869 | 3517 | 3110 | 1864 | 1387 | 1738 | 1063 | 938 | 721 | 1288 | 545 | 2880 | 1657 | 1067 | 604 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 20 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | SSW 15 | — | SW 17 |
222 | 219 | 98 | 460 | 57 | — | — | 15 | 522 | 603 | 263 | 44 | 15 | 50 | 211 | 417 | — | 22 | — | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | S 16 | SW 20 | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 |
26 | 20 | 97 | 129 | — | — | — | — | 62 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | WSW 6 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — | — | — | NW 3 | N 3 | NW 3 | N 3 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | — | NNW 3 |
3 | 40 | 97 | 94 | 315 | 2725 | 2449 | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1643 | 3832 | 1933 | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 41 | 2 | 13 | 322 | 146 | 383 | 21 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Mornington Peninsula | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 Cape Schanck Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cape Schanck provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cape Schanck can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cape Schanck 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 (Cape Schanck) 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 Cape Schanck 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.
Cape Schanck is 34 km (21 miles) from Mornington. If you plan a holiday in Mornington Peninsula, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mornington. Mornington has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











