
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Schanck surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 4,766 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s 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 (Jul 19) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Cape Schanck over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough run. The finder is giving us almost nothing to work with for the entire 16-day window. The first real chance to even think about a paddle is on Sunday the 19th, but after that, we hit a massive gap of poor conditions until the very end of the month.
Sunday the 19th is the only time in the first week that looks any good. We’ve got a clean 3 ft south-west swell rolling in from the deep, with a 12-second period. That’s a nice groundswell for this reef, and the wind is a light north-northwest breeze, sitting cross-offshore. The water temp is sitting right around 57°, which is about normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (296). It’s not a big day, but it’s the standout. The swell direction is a good match for the optimum south-east direction for this spot. Just keep in mind that Cape Schanck is a reef break that’s advanced only, and it can get crowded often. This is the one to aim for.
Then it all goes quiet. From Monday the 20th right through to Saturday the 26th, it’s a write-off. The wind is up, the swell is either too small or blown to pieces, and the scores are zero. You’d be wasting your time.
Sunday the 26th sees a drop in the madness. The swell is 6 ft from the south-west, but it’s onshore with a gentle breeze, and the energy is in the moderate range (997). The forecast says it’s marginal, not awful, but it’s still onshore. Not the clean conditions we want.
Monday the 27th is another one to watch. The swell drops to 4 ft, but the wind finally swings around to a light north, cross-offshore. The water is clean. The period is 11 seconds, so it’s still a decent wave. The energy is moderate (344). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. If you’re desperate, you might get a few.
After that, the wind comes back with a vengeance. From Tuesday the 28th onwards, we’re looking at strong to near-gale force winds, with big, messy swell. The energy spikes into the thousands (strong to very strong), but it’s all cross-on or onshore and blown out. There’s a big 12 ft south-west swell on Thursday the 23rd, but with 31 mph winds, that’s a washing machine, not a surf session. For the experts, that’s a kite session, not a paddle.
The one bright spot is the very end of the run. Sunday the 3rd of August has a 5 ft south-west swell with a long 16-second period, and the wind is only a moderate 16 mph cross-onshore. The energy is strong (1200). It’s still cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bit choppy, but the long period means there’ll be some power in the water. If you’re an advanced surfer and the wind plays ball, that might be the best of a bad bunch in the second week. But it’s not a guarantee.
Overall, this is a tough forecast for the Cape. The only real standout is Sunday the 19th. The rest is a long stretch of poor conditions, with a few marginal days scattered in the second week. The forecasts can change, but right now, I’d set your alarm for the 19th and then take a break.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the WSW by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri night, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, near gales from the WSW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 18 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | E 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
236 | 197 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 36 | 0 | 449 | 2 | 187 | 2124 | 4038 | 3866 | 4766 | 4427 | 4561 | 4370 | 3619 | 2972 | 1687 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:39AM1.61m | 3:56PM1.76m | 4:30AM1.59m | 4:32PM1.70m | 5:18AM1.54m | 5:07PM1.62m | 6:04AM1.48m | 5:40PM1.53m | 6:52AM1.43m | 6:13PM1.44m | 7:43AM1.37m | 6:49PM1.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:35PM0.26m | 9:41AM0.28m | 10:18PM0.20m | 10:25AM0.40m | 10:59PM0.19m | 11:07AM0.52m | 11:39PM0.22m | 11:47AM0.64m | 00:17AM0.26m | 12:29PM0.74m | 00:58AM0.32m | 1:15PM0.83m | 1:43AM0.37m | |||||||
— | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | — | SSW 18 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
236 | 167 | 587 | 461 | 367 | 799 | 711 | 449 | 480 | 187 | 2124 | — | 31 | 4766 | 4427 | 4561 | 4370 | 3619 | 2972 | 1687 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | WSW 15 | WSW 18 | SSW 14 | — | E 11 | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
60 | 197 | — | 249 | 32 | 36 | — | 2 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 20 | SSW 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
75 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 21 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | NW 4 | WSW 9 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | NW 4 | NW 4 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | — |
— | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 543 | 1422 | 4038 | 3866 | 3314 | 16 | 18 | 3074 | 2356 | 1969 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 61 | 52 | 49 | 473 | 473 | 52 | 78 | 473 | 78 | 491 | 529 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Mornington Peninsula | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










