Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,178 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chinamans this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 3PM. 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what’s actually happening.
We start off with some size on Friday 14th – 2.5m of SW swell at Chinamans (Bali). Power is there, 3502 on the energy scale, but that 15 km/h WSW cross-shore wind is going to put a ruffle on it. Water temps are 59°, which is pretty normal for the season.
The weekend is a dead loss. Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th have the wind swing ESE and pick up, making it a cross-onshore mess. You won’t want to be out there.
Monday 17th gets a bit better, 1.6m of SW swell with a light E breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore. It’s surfable, but just barely. Tuesday 18th is clean from a cross-off NNE wind, but it’s blowing at 30 km/h, which makes it a battle. Swell is down to 1.4m.
The middle of the week is small. We’re in the 1.1m to 1.6m range until Thursday 20th morning, which has a little more energy and a clean cross-off, but it’s not exactly inspiring.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday 23rd August – that’s a week out, so keep that in mind. The morning shows 2.4m of SW swell, energy at 3518, with a light ENE wind. The afternoon is better: 2.5m with a longer 17-second period, energy jumps to 4481, and just a light E breeze. This is looking like a proper day.
But the real standout is Monday 24th August. The morning brings a solid 3.0m of SW swell with an 18-second period. The energy is cranking at 5627, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the NNE at 20 km/h. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon holds at 3.0m, the period drops to 16 seconds, energy at 4027, and the wind stays cross-off and clean. This is big, powerful, and offshore. If you’re an expert, this is your session.
After that, it fades fast. Tuesday 25th drops to 1.2m, and though Wednesday 26th afternoon sees a new 2.5m pulse with energy at 5533, it comes with a fresh 35 km/h wind. It’s going to be a powerful, wind-affected mess.
The last few days, from Thursday 27th onwards, are mostly average. The one bright spot is Friday 28th morning – the wind goes completely glassy with a 1.7m SW swell. It’s more moderate in energy, but with zero wind, it’ll be the cleanest wave of that final stretch.
So the plan is simple: wait out the junk this week and be ready for the 24th. That’s the one. Big swell, long period, clean wind – it doesn’t get much better. The 23rd is a decent warm-up, but the 24th is the full show.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3415 | 2620 | 2102 | 1308 | 1092 | 1077 | 874 | 1330 | 1281 | 800 | 1297 | 834 | 480 | 499 | 472 | 463 | 2032 | 1856 | 2725 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:17AM0.67m | 3:23PM0.96m | 3:45AM0.75m | 3:46PM0.86m | 4:14AM0.81m | 4:04PM0.76m | 4:43AM0.83m | 4:16PM0.66m | 5:12AM0.83m | 4:16PM0.57m | 5:43AM0.79m | 3:52PM0.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:36PM0.09m | 8:57AM0.11m | 9:50PM0.09m | 9:36AM0.13m | 10:03PM0.08m | 10:14AM0.18m | 10:15PM0.08m | 10:49AM0.25m | 10:25PM0.09m | 11:23AM0.34m | 10:31PM0.11m | 12:00PM0.43m | 10:32PM0.12m | ||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | |  | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 16 | — | SSW 19 |
| kJ | 3415 | 2620 | 2102 | 1308 | 1092 | 1077 | 874 | 1330 | 1281 | 668 | 1297 | 834 | 480 | 499 | 472 | 428 | 1415 | — | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 26 | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | ENE 5 | — | E 4 | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 19 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 86 | 368 | 800 | — | 13 | — | 2 | 141 | 463 | — | — | 59 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 4 | E 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | N 4 | N 5 | N 4 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 11 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 21 | 54 | 20 | 44 | 9 | 2032 | 1856 | 2725 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 166 | 166 | 3 | 149 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 160 | 717 | 11 |
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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