Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 4,169 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 18s. 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. Rusty here, talking about Chinamans. This is a reef break that loves south-west swell, but it’s for the advanced crew only. Water temp is about 59°F, right around average for this time of year.
We start Wednesday the 19th with a 7 ft swell from the west, but a short 8-second period, and wind from the WNW at 25 mph making it messy. Energy is moderate (946). Afternoon swell jumps to 8 ft from the WSW with a very long 15-second period, wind drops to 22 mph, still cross-off, but the rating is low.
Thursday the 20th morning has a 6 ft swell from the WSW, 16-second period, cross-off wind at 19 mph – clean but not great. Afternoon has a cross-shore wind at 16 mph, 6 ft swell from the SW, 16-second period, but a cross-chop.
Friday the 21st morning is a 7 ft swell from the SW, 14-second period, gentle cross-shore breeze at 9 mph – slight chop but solid energy (2586). Friday afternoon is a standout: 8 ft from the SW, 17-second period, cross-off wind from the west at 12 mph, clean and huge energy (2947). This is a top pick.
Saturday the 22nd morning has 8 ft from the SW, 16-second period, light cross-on from the SW at 6 mph – small ripples, but energy is high (2688). Saturday afternoon is another standout: same swell, but wind turns to a gentle cross-off from the west at 9 mph, clean and excellent for experienced surfers.
Sunday the 23rd morning has 7 ft from the SW, 17-second period, gentle cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph – clean and excellent. Sunday afternoon gets offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, 6 ft swell, 16-second period, glassy and excellent. Another gem.
Monday the 24th drops to 4 ft in the morning, moderate cross-off wind at 12 mph, energy moderate (742). Afternoon gets messy with cross-on wind at 19 mph and lumpy conditions.
Tuesday the 25th is blown out – 10 ft from the SW in the morning, cross-on wind at 16 mph, choppy and poor. Afternoon same story at 8 ft.
Wednesday the 26th morning is a surprise: glassy conditions with a 5 ft swell, 12-second period, wind from the west at 3 mph – almost calm. Energy moderate (761), conditions very good.
Thursday the 27th morning has a 3 ft swell, 14-second period, offshore wind at 16 mph, clean and very good. Afternoon: 5 ft from the SW, 14-second period, gentle offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, excellent conditions, energy 1581.
From Friday the 28th, onshore wind from the SSE ruins it, with swell around 8-8 ft but choppy and poor through the first week of September.
The second week has a few clean moments – Monday the 31st of August has cross-off winds and a 6-6 ft SW swell with 17-second periods, but it’s marginal. After that, it’s mostly onshore and small.
Best sessions: Friday afternoon the 21st, Saturday afternoon the 22nd, and Sunday afternoon the 23rd. For advanced surfers, that’s your clean, powerful window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Wed morning, light winds from the WSW by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 502 | 2361 | 1303 | 1706 | 1869 | 2102 | 1602 | 2947 | 2794 | 2601 | 2199 | 1661 | 2386 | 1654 | 847 | 682 | 1154 | 1607 | 2522 | 2526 | 1182 |
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 | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:16PM0.57m | 5:43AM0.79m | 3:52PM0.52m | 6:19AM0.74m | 1:59PM0.52m | 7:29AM0.68m | 12:20PM0.72m | 12:56PM0.79m | 3:38AM0.37m | 1:22PM0.86m | 2:36AM0.40m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:23AM0.34m | 10:31PM0.11m | 12:00PM0.43m | 10:32PM0.12m | 1:14PM0.52m | 10:26PM0.13m | 10:07PM0.15m | 9:39PM0.15m | 9:15PM0.15m | 5:30AM0.36m | 9:03PM0.14m | ||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 444 | 553 | 1303 | 1706 | 489 | 2102 | 1602 | 2947 | 2794 | 2601 | 2199 | 1661 | 2386 | 1654 | 847 | 682 | 164 | 138 | 251 | 275 | 1182 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | — | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | 103 | 452 | — | — | 244 | 984 | — | — | 87 | 368 | 621 | — | — | 18 | 60 | 90 | 150 | — | — | 132 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 260 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WSW 15 | — | NW 4 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | WNW 3 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | — |
| kJ | 502 | 2361 | — | 9 | 1869 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 1154 | 1607 | 2522 | 2526 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 472 | 540 | 7 | 11 | 540 | 32 | 7 | 138 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 163 | 32 | 32 | 46 | 29 |
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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