Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 7,859 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 3.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break this down.
Same setup – Chinamans is your only spot showing swell over the next couple of weeks. Water temp is about 60°F, a touch warmer than usual for the season.
Thursday the 3rd starts with a 10ft SW swell, around 14-second period. Strong energy reading at 6602. But the cross-wind and chop will keep it from being perfect. Not bad, but not glassy.
Friday the 4th drops to 8-10ft from the SW, and the wind turns light offshore from the NNE. That cleans it up nicely. Good power, better shape.
Saturday the 5th is a dud. 12ft SW swell, but a 28 mph cross-wind turns it into a lumpy mess. The energy is still huge at 5162, but it’s not surfable.
Your best early call is Sunday morning the 6th. Glassy, calm winds, 8ft SW swell with good 14-second period. Energy is solid at 1948. It’ll be clean and well-shaped. For experienced folks only. Crowds are possible.
Monday the 7th through Wednesday the 9th is all onshore wind. Swell hangs around 4-12ft, but it’s choppy and poor.
Thursday the 10th is marginal. Not worth it.
Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th get a little better: 5-6ft SW swell with clean offshore winds from the NE and NNE. The energy drops to the 900-1275 range, so it’s smaller, but the surface will be smooth.
Sunday the 13th is tricky. Morning has strong offshore wind but only 4ft of swell – hard to paddle into. Afternoon picks up to 7ft but gets lumpy.
Now, the standout of the whole run: Tuesday morning the 15th. Glassy, dead calm, and a 8ft SW swell with a 17-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell that will wrap perfectly. Energy is 3125. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Crowds possible, but this is the one to aim for.
After that, the 16th and beyond gets blown out again. By Thursday the 17th, you’ve got 12ft swell with a 31 mph onshore wind – that’s for kite surfers, not paddle boarders. Energy hits 8362, but it’s unsurfable.
Bottom line: Sunday the 6th is good, but Tuesday the 15th is the real winner. Go then.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the W by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun night, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the ESE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3551 | 3137 | 4264 | 4084 | 3288 | 2197 | 5162 | 2892 | 2775 | 1948 | 1665 | 790 | 545 | 628 | 2730 | 3185 | 2496 | 1764 | 3067 | 7859 | 5404 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:53PM0.51m | 5:20AM0.90m | 3:32PM0.45m | 6:08AM0.84m | 7:40AM0.76m | 11:29AM0.78m | 12:33PM0.85m | 2:08AM0.36m | 1:12PM0.89m | 1:56AM0.47m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:12AM0.26m | 9:58PM0.00m | 12:03PM0.37m | 10:08PM0.00m | 10:11PM0.02m | 9:54PM0.06m | 9:04PM0.10m | 8:31PM0.11m | 6:00AM0.26m | 8:23PM0.10m | |||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 3551 | 3137 | 4264 | 4084 | 3288 | 2197 | — | 635 | 2775 | 1948 | 1665 | 790 | 545 | 628 | 2730 | 3185 | 2496 | 1764 | 3067 | 7859 | 5404 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | — | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 13 | — | — | SW 26 | SW 22 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | — | — | 21 | 117 | 508 | 238 | — | — | 326 | 2438 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | — | — | — | NNE 4 | WNW 5 | SW 15 | SW 13 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 3051 | — | — | — | 17 | 112 | 5162 | 2892 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 16 | 35 | 14 | 5 | 32 | 18 | — | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 329 | 506 | 0 | 162 | 3 | 726 | 1095 | 1204 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 32 | 46 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 78 | 29 | 7 |
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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