Surf Forecasts:
Cape Schanck surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 2,906 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 4PM (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 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Schanck in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s cut to it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Cape Schanck, a reef break that’s always on the hunt for a clean swell. We’ve got some proper size showing up, but the wind’s going to be the main player in whether this place turns it on or turns into a washing machine. It’s a long-range look, so the later stuff is promising but not set in stone.
The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Friday the 21st, after a couple of days of weak, wind-blown dribble that’s not worth suiting up for. Friday morning brings a modest 3.9ft SW swell, but the cross-shore breeze is going to make it lumpy. The afternoon eases off a bit, but it’s still only a marginal call. Then Saturday the 22nd is when it starts to get serious. The swell jumps to 8.2ft early, but it’s cross-shore and messy. Not the day for a hero session unless you’re a glutton for punishment.
Sunday the 23rd is the standout of this first week. The swell is a solid 6.9ft from the SW, but the magic happens in the afternoon when the wind swings light offshore from the NNE. That’s going to clean it right up. The wave energy is strong at 1690, and for a reef like this, that’s a proper pulse. It’s going to be big and powerful – this is one for the experienced crew, not the learners. The water’s sitting at 56.5°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small bonus. Expect some company, though, as this is the best on offer for a while.
After that, the wind turns against us for a few days. Monday the 24th has a fresh breeze and poor conditions, and the rest of that week stays average. The swell drops, and the cross-shore winds persist, keeping things chopped up. By Friday the 28th, a new SW groundswell starts to fill in, but it’s accompanied by strong cross-onshore winds and rain – a total write-off. Saturday the 29th pushes 8.2ft, but it’s onshore and lumpy, so it’s all about the wind and not the wave. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.
We finally catch a break on Monday the 31st. The wind eases off to a light cross-offshore breeze, and the swell, while not huge at 4.3ft, is clean and has some real energy behind it. That’s a solid option. But the true standout for the whole fortnight is Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning is pure gold: a clean 5.9ft SW groundswell with a gentle offshore breeze. The wave energy is cranking at 1600, and the conditions are rated as excellent. This is the session to point the car towards. After that, the swell fades out through Wednesday and Thursday, leaving us with small, clean leftovers but nothing with any punch.
So, mark your calendar for Sunday afternoon the 23rd, but if you can only pick one, make it Tuesday morning the 1st of September. That’s the one that’s got the size, the direction, and the glassy surface.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Wed afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
251 | 10 | 61 | 157 | 222 | 216 | 693 | 606 | 2284 | 2906 | 2796 | 2579 | 1891 | 1663 | 1622 | 874 | 647 | 277 | 723 | 796 | 785 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:58PM1.67m | 4:46AM1.61m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:01AM0.43m | 10:23PM0.14m | 10:37AM0.52m | 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 | |||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
251 | 239 | 217 | 147 | 154 | 175 | 693 | 606 | 2284 | 2906 | 2796 | 2579 | 1891 | 1663 | 1622 | 874 | 647 | 277 | 723 | 796 | 785 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SW 20 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | SW 16 | SW 20 | WSW 7 | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 21 | WSW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
2 | 2 | 61 | 46 | 47 | 216 | 98 | 75 | — | 92 | 99 | 183 | 522 | 27 | 49 | 18 | 38 | 83 | 104 | 208 | 107 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 16 | ESE 7 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WSW 7 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | — | — | SW 21 | — | S 18 | SW 13 | S 16 | — |
9 | 10 | 5 | 157 | 222 | 18 | 26 | 460 | — | — | — | — | 62 | — | — | 18 | — | 6 | 62 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | N 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | W 4 | W 7 | — | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | WSW 11 | — | — | — |
12 | 27 | 7 | 22 | 6 | 18 | 103 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 14 | 19 | 382 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 115 | 61 | 41 | 2 | 17 | 23 | 49 | 17 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 161 |
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.











