Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 3,235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 15s. 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 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for the next couple of weeks. This forecast is all about Chinamans, a solid reef break that’s exposed to the southwest swell. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but it’s not for the faint of heart – this is advanced territory most of the time.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a nice little pulse for Wednesday afternoon. Swell is coming in at 4ft from the southwest with a long 13-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the northwest. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year, so no dramas there. This is clean, lined-up reef surf—the kind that gets your heart pumping. The combined energy is moderate at 720, and it’s just pure, glassy fun.
Thursday keeps the good times rolling. The morning has a touch more wind, a moderate offshore breeze from the north at 20 km/h, but still clean with 4ft of SW swell. Then it gets even better for the afternoon. The swell bumps up to 5ft, the period stretches to 14 seconds, and the wind drops to a gentle offshore. The energy jumps way up to 1771, and the waves are gonna have some real push behind them. This is where it starts getting proper.
Friday is the first real standout of the window. The morning session is on. Swell is up to 7ft from the southwest with a long 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the northeast. Combined energy is strong at 2537. This is powerful, organized surf for experienced riders. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon, though, gets a bit tricky with a light cross-onshore breeze and a drop in quality.
Saturday and Sunday are a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday morning gets messy with an onshore breeze, and the swell drops. Sunday has some size – 5ft in the afternoon – but it’s bumpy with a cross-onshore wind. Not the cleanest, but there might be some salvageable ones if you’re keen.
Monday, the 31st, is the second big highlight. The afternoon looks phenomenal. Swell is pumping at 7ft from the southwest, with a long 18-second period. The wind is offshore and gentle, and the combined energy is massive at 3066. This is big, clean, powerful reef surf. Absolutely prime for the experienced crew. The morning is decent too, with clean 6ft waves, but the afternoon is the pick.
The first week of September turns a bit wild. Tuesday the 1st has a strong offshore breeze, but it’s fresh, making things a bit tricky. Wednesday and Thursday stay clean but the winds are fresh and cross-offshore, holding the swell at a solid 5-8ft. It’s not bad, but it’s not the perfection we saw earlier. Then Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th see the swell building big time – 8ft, then 10ft – but the wind is getting howling. By Saturday afternoon, it’s a near gale and the surf is just blown out. Sunday the 6th is the same, with a strong cross-shore wind and messy, chaotic waves – that’s not surf for anyone but a madman, and even then, probably more interesting for the kite crew.
That run of poor conditions lasts a few days. But just when you think it’s all over, the second week throws up the biggest standout of the whole forecast. Look at Monday the 7th’s afternoon: 10ft of SW swell with a 14-second period, and a gentle offshore wind. Clean, powerful, and heavy. That’s a serious day. Then Tuesday the 8th afternoon is the monster – the swell hits 10ft from the west-southwest, with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is off the charts at 8559. That’s a very strong, powerful swell. It’s going to be big, but if it’s clean, it could be the best day of the fortnight. Note, though, that this is a long-range call, so it’s promising but less certain.
The swell stays solid into Wednesday and then starts to ease back down by Thursday the 10th. The last day of the forecast shows a small, clean 4ft wave from the southwest with a light cross-offshore wind, a gentle finisher after all that madness.
So, if you’re looking for the best waves, the standout days are Friday the 28th morning, and Monday the 31st afternoon. Both are solid SW swells with clean winds and strong energy. The big, big stuff at the start of the second week is for the experts only – over 8ft, that’s not messing around. For the rest of us, just enjoy the show.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
591 | 232 | 623 | 928 | 3122 | 2537 | 2087 | 1108 | 802 | 553 | 363 | 455 | 1550 | 1796 | 1513 | 2714 | 1707 | 1297 | 1105 | 1474 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:26AM0.46m | 2:05PM0.93m | 2:32AM0.53m | 2:25PM0.93m | 2:45AM0.61m | 2:45PM0.90m | 3:02AM0.70m | 3:05PM0.85m | 3:22AM0.78m | 3:23PM0.77m | 3:46AM0.86m | 3:39PM0.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:59PM0.13m | 7:15AM0.22m | 9:00PM0.11m | 7:48AM0.16m | 9:04PM0.10m | 8:19AM0.12m | 9:11PM0.08m | 8:51AM0.09m | 9:19PM0.07m | 9:24AM0.09m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:57AM0.12m | 9:37PM0.04m | |||||||
— | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
591 | 232 | 623 | 928 | 3122 | 2537 | 2087 | 1108 | 802 | 553 | 363 | 379 | 1550 | 1796 | 1513 | 2714 | 1707 | 1297 | 1105 | 1474 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 21 | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | SW 23 | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 21 | SW 20 | WSW 14 | — | — | SW 18 | W 5 |
129 | 209 | 287 | 843 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 82 | 220 | 455 | 309 | 351 | 634 | 352 | — | — | 201 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | — |
— | — | 10 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 59 | 41 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1186 | 138 | 29 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











