Surf Forecasts:
Cape Schanck surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-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) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 16s. 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. 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 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| 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
Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range outlook for Cape Schanck. This is a solid reef set-up that demands respect, and the coming days are a real mixed bag.
Right now, the water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first week is pretty grim, to be honest. We’ve got a lot of lumpy, onshore wind and blown-out conditions. There’s a bit of swell on Thursday the 20th, but it’s tiny at 2ft and the 30 km/h north-westerly has it all chopped up. The energy is weak (313), so it’s a hard pass. Friday and Saturday are no better; Saturday the 22nd sees a jump in size to 8ft from the SW, but it’s a straight onshore gale, making it a mess. That’s expert-only territory for the size, but the wind ruins it.
We finally get a window on Sunday the 23rd afternoon. The swell drops to a clean 6ft from the SW, but the real story is the wind swinging light northerly at 10 km/h, giving us a nice cross-off clean-up. The energy is still strong (1753), and the period is a solid 13 seconds. This is the standout for the first week. It’s a quality, clean wave for experienced surfers.
Monday the 24th is a letdown with another fresh breeze ruining the shape. Tuesday through Thursday are all marginal with onshore winds and messy conditions. The period on Wednesday the 26th drops to 13 seconds, so the energy is fading.
The real hope comes later. On Thursday the 27th afternoon, we get a small but clean 4ft swell from the SW with a light north wind. The energy is moderate (930), but the conditions are clean. Then, Friday the 28th looks proper. The morning has a 7ft SW swell with a long 17-second period, and a light NNE cross-off. The energy is very strong (2953). That’s a big, powerful groundswell with clean conditions. Expect long waits between sets, but the shape will be solid on a reef. It’s one for the experts.
Saturday the 29th offers a nice morning session with a 5ft SW swell and a gentle offshore breeze from the NE. The energy is moderate (839) but the conditions are clean. Good for a relaxed session.
The second week starts to fade. Sunday the 30th is a write-off with 50 km/h winds, even if it’s cross-off. The swell is too small and the wind is a gale. Monday the 31st afternoon shows a bit of promise with a 4ft SW swell and a light NNE breeze, clean conditions, and moderate energy (1040). That’s the best of the later part. The rest of the week into early September is mostly small, weak, and onshore, with nothing to get excited about.
So, the pick of the entire window is Sunday 23rd afternoon for the clean, quality waves, and Friday 28th for the big, powerful groundswell if you’re an expert. Get on it while you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Thu afternoon, light winds from the W by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 17 | WNW 4 | WSW 15 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
157 | 222 | 21 | 0 | 460 | 0 | 2906 | 2779 | 2643 | 1785 | 1034 | 1622 | 886 | 837 | 925 | 1006 | 1215 | 1500 | 1049 | 613 | 471 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
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 | 10:37AM0.52m | 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 | 4:09PM0.95m | ||||||||
7:01 | — | — | 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 | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 11 |
147 | 116 | 261 | 791 | 996 | 2663 | 2906 | 2779 | 2643 | 1785 | 1034 | 1622 | 886 | 837 | 925 | 1006 | 903 | 1500 | 1049 | 613 | 471 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SW 17 | WSW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | SSW 16 | — | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | W 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | — | — | SW 18 | SW 16 |
11 | 222 | 149 | 98 | 460 | — | 49 | — | 120 | 522 | 719 | 80 | 9 | 15 | 51 | 209 | 458 | — | — | 13 | 93 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | W 7 | WSW 7 | SW 20 | SW 19 | — | — | — | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | — | — | W 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 |
157 | 26 | 9 | 97 | 129 | — | — | — | 38 | 62 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | — | WNW 4 | W 8 | NW 4 | WSW 16 | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | NW 4 |
9 | — | 21 | 138 | 19 | 3393 | — | 3645 | — | — | — | 2 | 16 | 8 | — | — | 1215 | — | — | — | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 13 | 48 | 23 | 17 | 49 | 49 | 48 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 41 | 41 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 41 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
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.











