Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 19s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 4,396 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m 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 2.5m 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 1.9m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wetsuit and wax. Rusty here, and I've got the long-range goods on one spot that’s going to be our mainstay for a while.
We’re looking at a solid run of South-West groundswell hitting the reef at Chinamans. This place lives for that direction, and it’s bang on. The next couple of days are a bit of a write-off with onshore and cross-shore winds making a mess of things, so surf-wise, things kick off on Sunday, August 23rd.
That’s when we see a real shift. The wind turns light offshore from the north, the swell is a clean 6ft to 7ft out of the SW, and the wave energy climbs nicely. It's not massive, but it's clean. That afternoon is the first real standout—northerly 6 mph offshore winds groom that 6ft SW groundswell (16-second period) into perfect lines. This is high-end for experienced surfers.
The middle of the week gets messy again with a strong southerly blow on the 25th, so we’ll have to sit that out. But hold onto your board because Thursday, August 27th, is where we score. The morning still has some leftover wind, but by the afternoon, it’s game on. You’re looking at a pulse of 8ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period hitting under gentle offshore NNW winds. The energy reading is massive. That’s a proper reef-swell combo that will have the peak stacking up nicely.
We then get a run of windy, lumpy days through to the end of August, but don't give up. The forecast is pointing to a ripper window opening on Monday, September 2nd, and extending through Thursday, September 5th. The standout in that stretch is Friday, September 4th in the morning. That’s a big call this far out, but the data is mouth-watering: a 10ft SW groundswell with an 18-second period, powered by a moderate offshore NNW wind. The combined energy is exceptional, but we’re talking a serious 10ft here—expert territory only. The reef will handle it, but the paddle-out will be a mission. High risk, high reward.
For the beginners, keep an eye on the smaller days, like Monday morning the 24th (4ft) or that Sunday morning the 30th (5ft), but the wind is a bit messy, so it won't be perfect.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri night, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Mon night, light winds from the SW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2390 | 1580 | 2913 | 2963 | 2404 | 2038 | 1881 | 2726 | 1787 | 936 | 581 | 416 | 588 | 2875 | 2994 | 1804 | 1069 | 732 | 299 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:19AM0.74m | 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 | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:32PM0.12m | 1:14PM0.52m | 10:26PM0.13m | 10:07PM0.15m | 9:39PM0.15m | 9:15PM0.15m | 5:30AM0.36m | 9:03PM0.14m | 6:37AM0.29m | 8:59PM0.13m | |||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 244 | 1580 | 2913 | 2963 | 2404 | 2038 | 1881 | 2726 | 1787 | 936 | 581 | 416 | 588 | 1096 | 2994 | 1804 | 1069 | 732 | 259 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | — | SW 21 | SSW 20 | N 4 | SW 17 | — | — | — | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 136 | 973 | — | — | 87 | 368 | 621 | — | — | 18 | 38 | 5 | 427 | — | — | — | 31 | 133 | 299 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 25 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 121 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | W 5 | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | N 3 |
| kJ | 2390 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 21 | — | 2875 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 46 | 7 | 162 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 46 | 29 | 46 | 32 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 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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