
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,828 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 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 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m 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 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Chinamans.
This is a solid reef setup, and it’s exposed to the SW, which is exactly the direction the swell is hammering in from. The water temp is sitting around 60°, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there. We’ve got a good run of surf on the cards, but it’s a slow start.
The first real action kicks off Monday afternoon, July 13th. We’re looking at a 12 ft SW swell with a 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, packing a lot of energy (7760). The wind is a cross-off from the W at 22 mph, which will keep it clean enough, but this is a big, powerful wave. Over 8 ft, so this is expert territory only. Beginners, stay out of the water.
Tuesday morning, July 14th, sees a drop in size to 10 ft, but the wind swings cross-on from the SW, making it choppy and messy. Not your day. Tuesday afternoon improves a little with a cross-shore breeze, but it’s still not clean.
Then we hit the sweet spot. Wednesday, July 15th, is a standout. The morning session brings a 7 ft SW swell (1941 combined energy) with a light cross-off from the NNE. That’s clean. But the afternoon is where it gets magic – glassy conditions, 7 ft of SW swell, and a 14-second period. That’s a wave you’ll be telling stories about. Perfect for experienced surfers.
Thursday, July 16th, holds the quality. Morning is clean with a 5 ft SW swell (1849) and a light NNE cross-off. Afternoon bumps up to 7 ft and a 16-second period (2080), still with a clean cross-off. Keep the stoke high.
Friday, July 17th, stays clean, but the swell is a touch smaller around 6 ft to 7 ft. Still good, but not the standout. Saturday, July 18th, the energy drops off significantly – down to 4 ft and 4 ft, with combined energy in the 400 to 500 range. It’s small, but the wind is still cross-off.
Sunday, July 19th, sees a weird one. A tiny 2 ft swell but with a 20-second period – that’s an incredibly long groundswell. The wind is offshore from the N, so it’ll be clean, but with that period, it’s going to break straight and fat at a beach break. For a reef like Chinamans, it could be a bit slow and walled up. Worth a look for the novelty, but don’t expect barrels.
The next real highlight comes on Thursday, July 24th. The swell jumps back up to 7 ft from the SW with a 17-second period (2846 combined energy). The wind is a clean cross-off from the WNW. This is a big, powerful, long-period groundswell. For a reef, that’s a recipe for deep, fast waves. Only for experts again.
After that, the swell settles into a mellow 4 ft to 5 ft range but with clean offshore winds from the NNW through the weekend of July 25th and 26th. Nice, clean, fun-size waves.
The last week of the month gets a bit wild. Monday, July 27th, the wind cranks up to 31 mph offshore from the NNW. While it’s offshore, that’s near-gale force – it’ll be howling, making it nearly impossible to paddle into. The swell is 7 ft with a 17-second period (2436), but the wind will ruin it. Tues, July 28th, drops to a moderate breeze but still messy with light rain. Not the best way to end the run.
My pick for the best on offer: Wednesday, July 15th afternoon – glassy, 7 ft, and a solid SW groundswell. That’s the one you clear your schedule for. The second stand-out is Thursday, July 24th, for the bigger, cleaner power.
Right, that’s the story.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mon 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5928 | 6694 | 5169 | 3876 | 2662 | 1941 | 1624 | 1421 | 1077 | 2080 | 1581 | 2180 | 1654 | 924 | 534 | 386 | 277 | 373 | 1241 | 1330 | 1417 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:36PM0.90m | 5:25AM0.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:14PM0.19m | 10:59AM0.36m | |||||||
— | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | |
5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | 5:30 | |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
1832 | 3457 | 5169 | 3876 | 2662 | 1941 | 1624 | 1421 | 1077 | 2080 | 1581 | 2180 | 1654 | 924 | 534 | 386 | 277 | 144 | 1241 | 1330 | 1417 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | SW 22 | SW 20 | WSW 13 | S 10 | S 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 772 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 9 | 16 | 73 | 373 | 277 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | 106 | 75 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 |
5928 | 6694 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 11 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1332 | 729 | 729 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 79 | 79 | 0 | 79 | 11 | 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.











