Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,729 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next coupla weeks.
Right off the bat, Sunday the 12th is a total no-go. We’ve got a messy 10-foot swell with a strong cross-shore wind, just churning it all up. The combined energy is massive (2926), but it’s all chop and no shape. A complete write-off, even for the pros.
Things get real on Monday the 13th. The swell holds at a heavy 12 feet, still from the SW, but the wind cleans up to a nice cross-off. The period is a very long 16 seconds, so this is proper groundswell. The energy is enormous (9127). At a reef like Chinamans, that long period will focus the power. This is a big, heavy, expert-only wave. Best of the whole run, but you need to know what you’re doing.
Tuesday the 14th drops back to 10 feet, but the wind goes cross-shore again, ruining the surface. Still a lot of water moving, but it’s sloppy.
Now, Wednesday the 15th is a beauty. The swell drops to a more friendly 7 feet, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm in the morning. The period is still a very long 15 seconds. The energy is moderate (1968), but the conditions will be perfect. Clean, smooth lines. For experienced surfers, this is a dream morning. The water temp is 60°, which is average for this time of year.
Thursday the 16th keeps the clean theme. Swell is around 5 to 6 feet with a nice offshore wind from the NNW in the afternoon and a period of 17 seconds. That’s sweet, long-period groundswell. A very good day.
The swell fades into the weekend (18th-19th). It gets small, down to around 4 feet. The wind is good, but there’s just not enough juice. The energy is weak (407). The 19th has a strong offshore, but with a 4-foot, 19-second swell, it’ll be a fight to get into them.
Then Monday the 20th brings another big pulse: 10 feet of SW swell, 16-second period, clean cross-off wind. Energy is huge again (6948). Another expert-only day.
The second week is smaller. The 21st and 22nd have some small, glassy conditions (5 to 5 feet) with very long periods, perfect for a peaceful, uncrowded session. The 24th has a weird, long-period 5-foot swell but with a light cross-onshore wind.
The last real standout is Saturday the 25th. A solid 8-foot SW swell with a clean cross-off wind. The energy is strong (3304). Another one for the experienced crew.
So, bottom line: Monday the 13th is the big, heavy standout for experts. For a cleaner, more manageable session, aim for Wednesday the 15th morning.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3010 | 6262 | 6029 | 5928 | 6729 | 5169 | 3926 | 2662 | 1968 | 1624 | 1290 | 1196 | 2066 | 1622 | 1532 | 1237 | 813 | 444 | 335 | 241 | 531 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:22AM0.26m | 1:06PM1.16m | 1:50AM0.30m | 1:51PM1.21m | 2:20AM0.37m | 2:32PM1.22m | 2:54AM0.45m | 3:09PM1.19m | 3:30AM0.53m | 3:42PM1.12m | 4:06AM0.61m | 4:11PM1.02m | 4:45AM0.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:31PM0.21m | 3:57AM0.24m | 9:29PM0.18m | 5:42AM0.21m | 9:42PM0.16m | 6:52AM0.17m | 10:00PM0.16m | 7:50AM0.15m | 10:20PM0.16m | 8:40AM0.16m | 10:39PM0.17m | 9:28AM0.20m | 10:57PM0.18m | 10:13AM0.27m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 |
 | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | 5:30 |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 61 | 622 | 3098 | 2978 | 3301 | 2599 | 3926 | 2662 | 1968 | 1624 | 1290 | 1196 | 2066 | 1622 | 1532 | 1237 | 813 | 444 | 335 | 241 | 531 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | SW 22 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | — | 163 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 252 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 73 | 125 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | SW 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 72 | 134 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 5 |
| kJ | 3010 | 6262 | 6029 | 5928 | 6729 | 5169 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 14 | 22 | 85 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1282 | 726 | 1034 | 1373 | 717 | 162 | 506 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 160 |
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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