Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 4,826 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 2.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The first real surf to talk about comes up on Monday the 24th, but honestly, it’s a grim start. We’ve got a 4ft SW swell at Chinamans, but that ENE wind is blowing 12 mph right across the face, creating a messy cross-chop. The combined energy is moderate at 634, but the conditions are just marginal. Not one to get excited about – Monday afternoon gets even worse with rain and poor surf.
Tuesday the 25th is a write-off with a strong 7ft to 8ft SW swell, but that SSW wind at 22 to 19 mph is cross-onshore, lumping everything right up. Combined energy jumps to a strong 4424 on the morning, but it’s ugly. Kite surfers might have a look, but for paddle surfing, forget it.
Now, Wednesday the 26th is where it starts to turn. The swell drops to a clean 5ft SW, and we get a light NW offshore wind at 6 mph in the morning – glassy conditions. Combined energy is a moderate 877, but the quality is there. Afternoon holds with 4ft and a gentle offshore from the NNW. Clean, groomed lines. This is the first genuine window for a session.
Thursday the 27th surf is smaller, around 4ft to 4ft with clean conditions and north winds, but the energy is up and down – 839 to a strong 1651 in the afternoon thanks to a long 19-second period. That’s some real groundswell energy, but at a beach break like this, that long period might make things a bit too straight. Still, for a reef setup, it could be fun if you’re not after hollow barrels.
Friday the 28th builds again with 7ft SW at a solid 16-second period. The combined energy is strong at 2344. North-northeasterly cross-offshore winds keep it clean. It’s a bit of a handful for beginners at 7ft, but for the experienced crew, it’s looking tidy. Saturday the 29th backs off into the small, sloppy stuff with onshore winds again – not worth the paddle.
Here’s the standout – mark Monday the 31st of August on your calendar. We’ve got glassy conditions in the morning, not a breath of wind, and a solid 8ft SW groundswell with an 18-second period. The combined energy is a strong 4030. This is proper groundswell, perfect for Chinamans’ reef. It’s big enough to need experience – 8ft is expert territory – but the conditions are excellent. The afternoon holds at 8ft with light cross-offshore winds. This is the pick of the whole outlook.
Tuesday the 1st of September stays clean and fun with 5ft and offshore winds, energy around 1184. Good follow-up surf.
Into the second week, Thursday the 3rd of September sees a 7ft swell from the WSW with clean cross-offshore winds and moderate energy (1847) – promising but less certain. By afternoon, it jumps to 10ft with messy cross-shore winds (4567 energy), so morning is the window.
Saturday the 5th of September offers clean 6ft SW with a moderate offshore wind (12 mph) and combined energy at 1742. Good for experienced surfers again.
The big story late in the run is Monday the 8th of September: a massive 12ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period and a fresh cross-offshore WNW wind. The combined energy is huge at 8066 – very strong. This is for experts only. It’s clean, but the size and power will be intimidating. Worth watching, but don’t get too attached to long-range calls like this – it’s promising but far out.
Water temp sits around 59°F at Chinamans, about 1°F above normal – average for the time of year, nothing unusual.
Overall, the standout is Monday the 31st of August – glassy, solid, classic Chinamans. Get it while it’s good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu night, min 14°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 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 21 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
581 | 422 | 680 | 2344 | 2114 | 1139 | 827 | 591 | 232 | 557 | 945 | 3523 | 2344 | 1809 | 1020 | 726 | 503 | 315 | 450 | 1230 | 1535 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:56PM0.79m | 3:38AM0.37m | 1:22PM0.86m | 2:36AM0.40m | 1:44PM0.90m | 2:26AM0.46m | 2:05PM0.93m | 2:32AM0.53m | 2:25PM0.93m | 2:45AM0.61m | 2:45PM0.90m | 3:02AM0.70m | 3:05PM0.85m | 3:22AM0.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:15PM0.15m | 5:30AM0.36m | 9:03PM0.14m | 6:37AM0.29m | 8:59PM0.13m | 7:15AM0.22m | 9:00PM0.11m | 7:48AM0.16m | 9:04PM0.10m | 8:19AM0.12m | 9:11PM0.08m | 8:51AM0.09m | 9:19PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | 6 | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 4 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 |
581 | 422 | 3 | 2080 | 2114 | 1139 | 827 | 591 | 232 | 557 | 706 | 3523 | 2344 | 1809 | 1020 | 726 | 503 | 315 | 203 | 1230 | 1474 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SW 18 | N 4 | — | — | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | — | N 5 | — | W 9 | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 24 | SW 21 |
38 | 121 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 50 | 129 | 171 | 282 | 945 | — | — | 22 | — | 85 | 21 | 222 | 450 | 197 | 1535 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 24 | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | SW 20 | WNW 7 | SW 26 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 |
15 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 15 | 18 | 27 | 98 | 209 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | NE 4 | SW 13 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | N 4 | N 4 | — | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — | — | — |
13 | 26 | 680 | 2344 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 28 | 25 | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 13 | 184 | 663 | 46 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 79 | 3 | 81 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke 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 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.











