Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with 5,107 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 18s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 18s period. 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour. This is Rusty, and we’re looking at Chinamans. It’s a reef break, advanced only. The water is about 59°, which is normal for the season.
The window starts Sunday, August 30th, but it’s a slow one. Sunday morning is a mess with cross-onshore wind, waves around 4ft, and weak energy (840). The afternoon picks up to 5ft from the SW, long period at 18 seconds, and energy jumps to 2060, but it’s still side-on and choppy. A pass.
Monday, August 31st is the first real standout. The morning has a 7ft SW swell with a 19-second period, cross-offshore wind at 9 mph, and energy is serious at 3646. It’s clean. That afternoon is a 7ft swell, still long period, and it’s a solid look for experienced surfers.
Tuesday, September 1st is a mixed bag. Morning has a strong offshore at 25 mph with a 5ft swell, but it’s a mission to paddle. The afternoon drops to 4ft. Not your best session.
Wednesday the 2nd through Friday the 4th are a bit of a slog. Swell is 7ft to 8ft, wind is mostly cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but it’s not great. Friday gets hammered by strong winds.
The weekend of the 5th and 6th is a washout. Saturday has a 10ft swell with cross-shore wind and huge energy (5755). Sunday cleans up but the swell is 7ft and energy is dropping.
The second week starts ugly. The 7th and 8th of September are a mess with 10ft to 13ft swell and gale-force winds. It’s a kite surfer’s paradise.
Then we get a treat. Wednesday, September 9th, morning is a standout. The swell is 12ft from the SW, period 15 seconds, with nearly glassy wind at 3 mph. Energy is 10763. Big, powerful, clean. The afternoon is still solid at 10ft but side-on, so the morning is the pick.
Thursday the 10th is good. Morning has a 6ft swell, offshore wind, clean. The afternoon is smaller and side-on.
Friday, September 11th is a gem. Morning is 6ft, cross-offshore, clean. The afternoon is glassy with a 7ft SW swell and a 16-second period. Energy is 2445. This is a session to remember.
The rest of the second week drops off, with Monday the 14th getting blown out.
Best bets: Monday, August 31st, and then Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon of the second week. Crowds are possible at Chinamans, so get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, near gales from the N by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 449 | 1747 | 1818 | 3166 | 2912 | 1685 | 1028 | 754 | 1664 | 2009 | 2090 | 2968 | 2238 | 2096 | 4032 | 2722 | 2208 | 5107 | 3066 | 3563 | 3499 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:05PM0.85m | 3:22AM0.78m | 3:23PM0.77m | 3:46AM0.86m | 3:39PM0.69m | 4:12AM0.91m | 3:51PM0.59m | 4:43AM0.92m | 3:53PM0.51m | 5:20AM0.90m | 3:32PM0.45m | 6:08AM0.84m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:19PM0.07m | 9:24AM0.09m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:57AM0.12m | 9:37PM0.04m | 10:33AM0.18m | 9:47PM0.02m | 11:12AM0.26m | 9:58PM0.00m | 12:03PM0.37m | 10:08PM0.00m | 10:11PM0.02m | |||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 449 | 1747 | 1818 | 3166 | 2912 | 1685 | 1028 | 754 | 537 | 2009 | 2090 | 1594 | 2238 | 2096 | 4032 | 2722 | 2208 | — | 199 | 1838 | 3499 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 21 | SSW 19 | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 20 | — |
| kJ | 388 | 312 | 365 | 480 | — | — | — | 387 | 549 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 253 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 101 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 5 | WNW 5 | SW 16 | WSW 6 | W 5 | SW 14 | — | — | — | N 5 | N 6 | WSW 15 | SW 12 | SW 15 | — |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 91 | 103 | 1664 | 44 | 44 | 2968 | — | — | — | 43 | 212 | 5107 | 3066 | 3563 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 1189 | 726 | 160 | 540 | 540 | 729 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 682 | 1095 | 1186 | 1200 | 0 |
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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