Surf Forecasts:
Cape Schanck surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, SW swell with 3,817 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 13s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s. 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 2.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 17s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a mixed bag coming our way over the next couple of weeks at Cape Schanck. The week starts a bit slow and messy with onshore winds, but there’s a couple of gems hiding in the second week that are worth planning for. Let’s break it down.
First up, Monday the 24th and into Tuesday the 25th are nothing to write home about. Monday morning has some clouds and a northerly cross-off breeze at 19 mph, with 5 ft swell from the southwest. The water’s sitting at 57° – about a degree warmer than usual, so it’s a touch on the mild side. The wave energy is moderate (874), but the forecast feels marginal – not the kind of day that gets your heart racing. Tuesday morning looks more promising: a light rain with a gentle offshore from the northeast at 9 mph, 6 ft SW swell, and wave energy bumping up to moderate (1020). That’s the first real sign of life, with clean, peeling lines on offer. But Tuesday afternoon? Forget it – the wind swings onshore and it turns ugly.
Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are mostly a write-off, with onshore winds and poor conditions. Thursday afternoon, though, the wind drops to a light breeze from the north-northeast at 6 mph, cross-off, and the swell cleans up to 4 ft from the southwest. Wave energy is low-moderate (397), but it’s glassy and tidy – a good window for a sneaky session if you’re flexible.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 28th is tiny in the morning – 0.7 ft – but by the afternoon a new pulse of long-period groundswell arrives: 7 ft from the southwest with a 17-second period, pumping moderate energy (2464). The wind is a light cross-on, so it’ll have a bit of texture, but that long period means the waves will have shape and power. This is a reef break – it’ll hold that long-period energy well. Keep an eye on it.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are more of the same – smaller, cleanish, but nothing to get excited about.
The real standout? Mark down Monday the 31st of August. This is the pick of the forecast. Morning brings a clean north-northwest cross-off breeze at 6 mph, with 8 ft of southwest groundswell riding in on a 19-second period. That’s very long-period, classic groundswell. The combined wave energy hits strong at 4035 – that’s proper juice. This is a reef setup, so that long period will wrap in beautifully, offering solid, well-shaped walls. It’s in the advanced difficulty range, so this one’s for experienced surfers only – anything over 8 ft is expert territory, and this is close. Crowds can be likely here, but with conditions this clean and a swell this size, it’ll be worth jostling for a spot. The afternoon holds up with clean offshore winds too.
Tuesday the 1st of September gets blown out by strong cross-shore winds, and the rest of the first week of September is a mixed bag of onshore slop and building swell. Friday the 4th has 8 ft but with strong cross-shore winds – more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
Another standout to watch: Saturday the 5th of September. The morning is clean with a cross-off, but it’s the afternoon that shines – glassy conditions, 6 ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and moderate wave energy (1343). For a reef break, that’s a dream setup: clean, glassy, and solid. This one’s for the experienced crew again.
The final week gets wild – Sunday the 7th and Monday the 8th see massive, stormy swell (up to 18 ft and 15 ft) with gale-force winds. That’s not surfable – that’s a weather warning. Stay out of the water.
So, to sum it up: the first few days are touch and go, but Monday the 31st of August and Saturday the 5th of September are your true standouts. The reef at Cape Schanck will be firing on those days, especially with that clean, offshore wind and long-period groundswell. Get in early, expect a crowd, and paddle out with confidence.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 20 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
874 | 722 | 643 | 969 | 710 | 1094 | 1344 | 905 | 732 | 389 | 324 | 552 | 31 | 2368 | 1449 | 928 | 752 | 444 | 424 | 427 | 1171 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on | on | on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:44PM1.29m | 8:59AM1.27m | 7:41PM1.21m | 10:20AM1.29m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:16PM0.89m | 1:46AM0.46m | 2:29PM0.95m | 2:53AM0.50m | 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 | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
— | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 |
874 | 722 | 643 | 969 | 710 | 1094 | 1344 | 905 | 732 | 389 | 324 | 431 | 1278 | 2368 | 1449 | 928 | 752 | 444 | 424 | 423 | 1171 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | S 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 22 | SW 20 | WSW 13 | SSW 17 | S 16 | S 15 | SW 24 | WSW 22 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 23 |
— | 15 | 50 | 51 | 381 | — | 4 | 12 | 91 | 76 | 118 | 552 | 555 | 96 | 45 | 17 | 22 | 45 | 212 | 427 | 187 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | SW 22 | SSW 9 | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | S 13 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SSW 18 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 73 | 8 | 31 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 40 | 61 | 32 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NE 3 | E 4 | — | SW 4 | SW 14 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 4 | 2 | 7 | — | 12 | 886 | 694 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 62 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Mornington Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











