Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,947 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 22s. 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 21) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day window for Chinamans, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag of a forecast. The first week is going to test your patience with iffy conditions and marginal surf, but there’s a couple of real gems tucked in the second week. The standout will be Saturday the 23rd, with a solid 7ft SW groundswell at 17 seconds and clean, glassy offshore winds. That’s the one to circle. The water temp is sitting pretty average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.
Right now, starting Wednesday morning the 19th, we’ve got 7ft of weak W swell (973 energy) but a strong cross-off wind is wrecking the surfaces. Not worth paddling out. That afternoon, the swell jumps to 8ft from the WSW with a very long 15-second period, pushing energy into the strong range (2501), but the wind is still messy. Conditions stay marginal through Thursday and Friday, with wave heights around 6ft to 8ft but cross-shore winds and chop spoiling the party. Saturday the 22nd afternoon starts to show promise: 8ft SW swell (15 seconds, 2537 energy) with clean conditions and a light cross-off breeze. That’s a solid option for experienced surfers.
Then Sunday the 23rd is the peak. Morning brings 7ft SW groundswell at 17 seconds, true offshore winds from the north, and glassy conditions. Energy is strong (2386) and the waves will have power and shape. This is for confident surfers only—over 8ft is expert territory, but 7ft is right in the sweet spot. Afternoon stays clean with 6ft swell and gentle offshore winds. After that, things drop off fast. Monday the 24th is back to marginal, with smaller swell and onshore winds. The rest of the first week into early the second week is a write-off: poor surf, strong winds, and messy conditions through the 27th and 28th, with a 10ft pulse on the 27th afternoon but cross-shore gales making it a kite-surfing show, not a paddle session.
The last week offers a few bright spots. Tuesday morning September 1st is a beauty: 5ft SW swell (14 seconds, 1092 energy), glassy conditions, and light winds. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. Wednesday morning September 2nd is also glassy with 4ft swell, perfect for a cleaner, smaller session. Then Thursday morning September 3rd looks promising with 8ft SW swell at 17 seconds (3198 energy) and a light cross-off breeze—this one’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it could be another standout if the wind holds. Overall, the first week is a grind, but the second week delivers.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue night, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Tue night, light winds from the SW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SSW by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | W 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 480 | 529 | 2182 | 1322 | 1629 | 813 | 2002 | 1382 | 2947 | 2794 | 2534 | 2169 | 1638 | 2386 | 1787 | 936 | 659 | 862 | 827 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 5:12AM0.83m | 4:16PM0.57m | 5:43AM0.79m | 3:52PM0.52m | 6:19AM0.74m | 1:59PM0.52m | 7:29AM0.68m | 12:20PM0.72m | 12:56PM0.79m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:25PM0.09m | 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 | |||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 480 | 444 | 255 | 1322 | 1629 | 813 | 2002 | 1382 | 2947 | 2794 | 2534 | 2169 | 1638 | 2386 | 1787 | 936 | 659 | 862 | 827 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | — | — | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 64 | 452 | — | — | 244 | 984 | — | — | 87 | 368 | 621 | — | — | — | 67 | 134 | 307 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 259 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | W 8 | WSW 15 | — | W 9 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — |
| kJ | 46 | 529 | 2182 | — | 427 | 307 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 472 | 540 | 7 | 7 | 160 | 11 | 7 | 138 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 32 | 32 |
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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