Surf Forecasts:
Cape Schanck surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,927 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. 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 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) 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 2.4m 14s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wetties, ‘cause we’re looking at over two weeks at Cape Schanck, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag with a few gems hidden in there.
The first few days are honestly a write-off thanks to a south-westerly blow, but things start to tidy up towards the end of the week. The real standout window looks to be from Monday the 31st of August into Wednesday the 2nd of September, where we get those clean, glassy conditions that make this reef sing.
So, let’s break it down.
Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th are for kicking back. Wednesday is a mess with onshore southerly winds at 16 mph ruining an otherwise juicy swell. You’re looking at a combined wave energy of 1325 (moderate) behind it but it’s just blown-out. Thursday morning sees the wind swing to a cross-offshore NNW at 9 mph, and the swell drops to 4 ft from the SW. That’s a clean start to the day with 485 (gentle) energy. It’s not big, but it’s workable. Thursday afternoon gets even better with the wind going glassy from the North at 3 mph and a 4 ft SW swell (449). That’s the sweet spot for a cruiser session.
Friday 28th is a step backwards. The morning is cross-onshore and choppy with a 5 ft SW swell but strong energy at 1193. The afternoon comes in onshore at 7 ft and that’s too much with these winds. Forget it.
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th are marginal. Saturday’s onshore again with a 6 ft to 5 ft range. Sunday has a 6 ft SW swell but the wind is cross-shore and messy. Not great.
Now here’s the gold.
Monday 31st August is your pick of the first week. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore NNW breeze at 9 mph. You’ve got a solid 7 ft SW groundswell at a long 15-second period, packing a combined energy of 1661 (strong). That’s proper power. The afternoon holds strong with a 6 ft SW swell and 14-second period (1922 in energy) under a lighter cross-offshore Northerly. This is the one to circle — quality, powerful, and clean. Cape Schanck is a reef, so that long-period swell will wrap in nicely.
Tuesday 1st September: Morning is clean but those NNW winds are howling at 25 mph. The swell is 5 ft with a long 16-second period (1360), but it’s a battle. The afternoon gets messy with that cross-shore wind. Skip it.
Wednesday 2nd September: Here’s your second standout. Morning is clean with a cross-offshore NNW at 9 mph. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the SW with a 15-second period and a massive 1906 combined energy. That’s powerful, lined-up groundswell. This is for experienced surfers only as it’ll be well overhead and grinding down the reef. The afternoon stays clean but the wind picks up a bit.
After that, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th are a return to slop and strong winds. By Saturday 5th and into the second week, the size really kicks up with 8 ft to 10 ft from the SW but it’s plagued by strong onshore winds. The energy readings are huge (3653 on Saturday afternoon), but it’s going to be a washing machine — honestly, more of a kite-surfing scene than anything for us paddle guys.
Sunday 6th through to Tuesday 8th September continues that theme of big, powerful SW swells (10 ft, 7 ft) but with generally onshore or cross-onshore winds in the moderate range. Groundswell energy stays high (up to 3385), but the wave quality is poor to marginal. You’d need to be an expert to handle the size, but the wind will make it a challenge.
Wednesday 9th September offers a last little tease — a clean morning with a cross-offshore NNW, 5 ft SW swell at a 16-second period (1250 energy). Worth a look if you’re keen. After that, the swell completely drops away into Thursday and Friday, with nothing surfable left.
Just a heads up on the water temp: it’s sitting at 57°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year — so maybe ditch the steamer gloves for a bit longer.
Overall, circle Monday 31st August and Wednesday 2nd September as your days to go. Big, clean, powerful groundswell. The rest has too much wind or is too big and messy. Don’t get too excited about the second week’s big numbers—they come with wind problems.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
905 | 613 | 389 | 392 | 517 | 1136 | 2595 | 1806 | 1307 | 902 | 892 | 940 | 974 | 1228 | 1107 | 1374 | 1002 | 1494 | 1314 | 2085 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:06PM1.17m | 11:26AM1.34m | 10:40PM1.18m | 12:14PM1.41m | 11:52PM1.26m | 12:51PM1.48m | 00:48AM1.36m | 1:24PM1.54m | 1:34AM1.47m | 1:54PM1.58m | 2:16AM1.58m | 2:24PM1.62m | 2:56AM1.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:09PM0.95m | 4:09AM0.51m | 5:29PM0.87m | 5:17AM0.49m | 6:22PM0.75m | 6:13AM0.45m | 7:01PM0.62m | 7:00AM0.41m | 7:34PM0.48m | 7:41AM0.39m | 8:07PM0.35m | 8:20AM0.38m | 8:39PM0.23m | |||||||
— | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
905 | 613 | 389 | 392 | 517 | 904 | 2595 | 1806 | 1307 | 902 | 892 | 940 | 974 | 1228 | 1107 | 1374 | 744 | 1494 | 1314 | 2085 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 6 | SW 15 | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 24 | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 20 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
— | 30 | 76 | 118 | 455 | 1136 | 59 | 25 | 21 | 11 | 73 | 136 | 134 | 195 | 437 | 369 | 1002 | 137 | 92 | 73 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 16 | SW 22 | S 11 | S 20 | S 18 | — | — | — | — | WSW 22 | S 20 | S 20 | — | SW 21 | SSW 20 | — | — | — | — |
— | 91 | 20 | 57 | 30 | 57 | — | — | — | — | 45 | 8 | 8 | — | 153 | 37 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 3 |
42 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 25 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 24 | 55 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 | 52 | 17 | 23 | 283 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 478 | 78 | 12 |
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.











