Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 19s period, SW swell with 4,091 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 20s. 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 2.4m 19s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's look at what we've got on offer for the next couple of weeks at Chinamans.
We’re looking at a long stretch of solid, consistent SW groundswell hitting this exposed reef break, and the key is going to be picking the windows when the wind plays nice. The water’s sitting at 59°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
The first few days, from Friday the 21st through Saturday the 22nd, are a write-off. We’ve got a solid 7ft to 8ft SW swell with heaps of energy (2553 to 2913), but the wind is all over the place – cross and cross-off with some chop. The conditions are just marginal, so you’re better off waiting.
Sunday the 23rd is where it starts to get interesting. The morning session is looking good with a clean 7ft SW swell (2758) and a light NNE cross-off breeze. It’s for the experienced crew at that size, but the shape should be there. Then Sunday afternoon is the real standout of the whole run: glassy conditions, a 3 mph offshore from the north, and a clean 6ft SW swell (1787). That’s the kind of session you live for.
Monday the 24th morning still has some clean, smaller waves at 4ft (619) with a light cross-off, but it's a big step down. Monday afternoon gets ruined by a strong east wind.
Tuesday the 25th is a total mess with onshore gales and lumpy 8ft swell. Wednesday the 26th morning is a gem, though – glassy conditions, a 5ft SW swell (1016), perfect for a more relaxed session. Post-lunch on Wednesday is also clean with a gentle offshore.
Thursday the 27th morning has a moderate offshore with 4ft swell, but the standout is Thursday afternoon: a long-period 6ft SW swell from 19 seconds (3109) with clean cross-off winds. That long period means the reef will really line up, but sets will be far apart.
Friday the 28th morning is another beauty: a light offshore, 7ft SW swell (2344), and clean. Top notch.
We then hit a flat spell. From Saturday the 29th right through to Sunday the 30th, it’s small, onshore junk. That’s a couple of days you can sleep in.
Monday the 31st morning wakes things back up with a very long-period 5ft SW swell at 20 seconds (2570) and a light cross-off. That’s a clean, lined-up reef wave. Monday afternoon jumps back up to 7ft (3588), but it’s a bit cross.
Into the first week of September, Tuesday the 1st is near-perfect: clean, light offshore winds, 7ft swell (2003) in the morning, and 6ft (1632) in the afternoon. Wednesday the 2nd stays clean with a moderate offshore breeze, holding 5ft to 6ft.
The long-range stuff around Thursday the 5th and Friday the 6th shows some big, powerful swell (up to 10ft and 5467 energy), but the wind gets strong again, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. On the whole, the absolute pick of the entire forecast is that Sunday afternoon, August 23rd, and the Tuesday morning, September 1st is another standout. Chinamans is a reef, so it’s an advanced wave, and the crowds can be around sometimes, but when the wind is offshore and the SW groundswell is pumping, it’s worth fighting for a spot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Mon afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1580 | 2913 | 2963 | 2259 | 2169 | 2010 | 2758 | 1787 | 1034 | 581 | 422 | 609 | 3353 | 2119 | 1443 | 905 | 669 | 309 | 746 | 2310 | 3511 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:59PM0.52m | 7:29AM0.68m | 12:20PM0.72m | 12:56PM0.79m | 3:38AM0.37m | 1:22PM0.86m | 2:36AM0.40m | 1:44PM0.90m | 2:26AM0.46m | 2:05PM0.93m | 2:32AM0.53m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 1:14PM0.52m | 10:26PM0.13m | 10:07PM0.15m | 9:39PM0.15m | 9:15PM0.15m | 5:30AM0.36m | 9:03PM0.14m | 6:37AM0.29m | 8:59PM0.13m | 7:15AM0.22m | 9:00PM0.11m | ||||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NNW 5 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 |
1580 | 2913 | 2963 | 2259 | 2169 | 2010 | 2758 | 1787 | 1034 | 581 | 422 | 7 | 2080 | 757 | 1443 | 905 | 669 | 309 | 746 | 2310 | 3511 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | — | — | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 20 | — | — | — | SSW 20 | SW 18 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 21 | SW 14 | — |
973 | — | — | 87 | 365 | 552 | — | — | — | 38 | 119 | 3 | — | — | — | 111 | 208 | 258 | 641 | 799 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 19 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 24 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | N 5 | NNE 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 84 | 609 | 3353 | 2119 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 34 | 37 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 138 | 46 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 46 | 699 | 738 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 74 | 74 | 3 |
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.











