Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,947 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chinamans this week:
The surf forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 17s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, breaking down what the next couple of weeks look like for us. You’re gonna have to earn your waves.
We kick off on Monday the 17th with a 5ft SW swell, but the wind is a messy cross-shore from the ENE at 12 mph. It’s lumpy and no good. The water temp is 59°, which is about normal for the time of year.
Honestly, the whole first week is a bit of a let-down. Tuesday the 18th cleans up with a cross-offshore NNE breeze, but the swell drops to 5ft. It’s rideable but not pumping. Wednesday the 19th sees the wind howling from the WNW at 22 mph, which messes with the shape, even though the swell pushes up to 8ft in the afternoon from the WSW. The wave energy is very strong (2547), but that wind is a killer.
We finally get a break on Saturday the 22nd. That’s the one. The swell is a solid 7ft from the SW with a long 15-second period. The wind goes light and cross-offshore from the WNW, only 6 mph. The wave energy is pumping between 2039 and 2182. This is top-shelf for experienced surfers – a bit much for beginners at that size. The reef will be handling those long lines beautifully.
That clean stretch carries into Sunday the 23rd. Still a 7ft SW swell in the morning, easing to 6ft in the afternoon, with light, offshore breezes from the N and NW. It’s glassy, powerful, and consistent. The wave energy tops out at 2956 on Sunday morning. That’s the best of the whole run right there.
Everything after that fades. By Monday the 24th, the swell drops to 4ft and the wind goes onshore from the SSW, turning it into a choppy mess. The rest of the week into early September looks poor. The wind stays fresh and onshore or cross-shore, with small, weak swell. There’s a big spike on Sunday the 30th of August, with a 10ft WSW swell in the afternoon, but the wind is cross-shore and that size is strictly for the experts.
The last day in the window, Tuesday the 1st of September, shows a 6ft SW swell with a cross-offshore wind, but it’s raining moderately, so the conditions will be wet and rugged.
Your best bet, hands down, is Chinamans on Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd. That 7ft SW groundswell with clean, light offshore winds is the real deal. The rest of the time, you’re mostly just waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1347 | 1185 | 800 | 1174 | 834 | 480 | 438 | 2228 | 1520 | 864 | 886 | 1958 | 1382 | 2630 | 2506 | 1985 | 1958 | 1784 | 2561 | 1787 | 1108 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:04PM0.76m | 4:43AM0.83m | 4:16PM0.66m | 5:12AM0.83m | 4:16PM0.57m | 5:43AM0.79m | 3:52PM0.52m | 6:19AM0.74m | 1:59PM0.52m | 7:29AM0.68m | 12:20PM0.72m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:14AM0.18m | 10:15PM0.08m | 10:49AM0.25m | 10:25PM0.09m | 11:23AM0.34m | 10:31PM0.11m | 12:00PM0.43m | 10:32PM0.12m | 1:14PM0.52m | 10:26PM0.13m | 10:07PM0.15m | 9:39PM0.15m | |||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 1347 | 1185 | 668 | 1174 | 834 | 480 | 438 | 255 | 442 | 864 | 886 | 1958 | 1382 | 2630 | 2506 | 1985 | 1958 | 1784 | 2561 | 1787 | 1108 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 17 | — | — | — | SW 20 | SSW 18 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SSW 24 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | — | — |
| kJ | 86 | 368 | 800 | 287 | — | — | — | 64 | 221 | 290 | 161 | 244 | 1099 | — | — | 54 | 224 | 715 | 395 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | N 5 | W 7 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 16 | 41 | 20 | 24 | 56 | 278 | 2228 | 1520 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 166 | 3 | 3 | 81 | 149 | 168 | 540 | 7 | 7 | 717 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Chinamans Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Chinamans provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Chinamans can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Chinamans 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 (Chinamans) 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 Chinamans 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Yorke Peninsula? If you are looking for accommodation near Chinamans, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Yorke Peninsula, consider staying in Kingscote which is 80 km (50 miles) away.
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