Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.2° C
0.6° 

Chinamans surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Chinamans surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,865 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 3PM (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 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 21s. 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Sat 22nd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 3PM (Sat 22nd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Most Powerful 9PM (Fri 21st Aug)8ft (2.4m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks, and yeah, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for us. The good news is we’ve got a window of proper groundswell coming through, but you’re going to have to pick your moments with the wind. It’s not going to be all-time, but there are a couple of windows that’ll make it worth the paddle.

The first standout is next Sunday, the 23rd of August. There’s a solid SW swell pushing in, around 6ft, and the wind drops right out. Glassy conditions in the afternoon, and the water’s sitting at 59°F, which is about normal for this time of year. This is your cleanest, most user-friendly day of the whole stretch, and the swell has good energy behind it. Definitely the one to circle on the calendar.

Before that, the early part of the week is a grind. Tuesday (18th) and Wednesday (19th) have waves, but the wind is up, blowing cross-off at 16-22 mph, and the quality is just marginal. It’s not a complete write-off, but you’ll be fighting it. By Thursday and Friday, the swell actually builds—up to the 7ft to 8ft range—but the wind swings cross-shore and it’s lumpy. It’s powerful, but it’s a bit of a mess. Not great for the lineup.

Saturday the 22nd is the same story. The swell is up around 8ft, which is getting big for beginners, and the cross-shore wind is making it a washing machine. This would be a better day for a kite than a surfboard, honestly.

Now, the second standout is a bit further out: Wednesday the 2nd of September. We’ve got a strong SW swell at 8ft, a long 16-second period, and light offshore winds forecast. It’s going to be clean and powerful. This is a week and a half away, so treat it as promising rather than set in stone, but it has all the ingredients for a proper session.

The periods in between are a bit of a lottery. The 26th and 27th look windy, with strong breezes and a jump in energy—could be a bit wild. The 29th and 30th have the wind swinging onshore and the quality drops right off, so I’d give those a miss.

For the last few days into September, we see the swell pulse again, but the wind is more cross to cross-on. It’ll still be rideable, but not as clean as those standout windows.

Anyway, that’s the long and short of it. Get out there for the glassy Sunday, keep an eye on the first Wednesday of September, and you’ll be fine.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Tue night, light winds from the WSW by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
2
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SW
17
1.3
SW
16
1
SW
16
1
SW
15
2
WSW
15
2
WSW
13
1.8
SW
16
1.3
SW
16
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
14
2.2
SW
17
2.4
SW
16
2.3
SW
16
2.3
SW
15
2.1
SW
15
2.1
SW
17
1.9
SW
16
1.5
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.5
SW
14
1.6
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1174
834
480
444
1714
1329
1551
897
2002
1382
2790
2794
2634
2259
1760
2442
1787
936
581
852
827
Wind (km/h)
25
NNE
25
NNE
35
NW
30
WNW
30
W
15
WNW
25
NW
25
W
20
SW
15
SW
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
10
W
5
NNE
10
NNE
10
NNW
15
N
20
NW
30
W
30
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
4:16PM0.66m
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
10:49AM0.25m
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
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:55
 mm
3
1
Temp °C
15
16
15
14
14
14
14
15
14
14
14
14
13
13
13
13
14
15
15
16
13
Feels °C
10
11
9
8
7
9
10
10
11
10
10
10
11
11
12
10
12
12
10
10
7
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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