
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,538 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period with WSW 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a solid start to the week at Chinamans, a reef break that’s exposed to the SW. The water temp is sitting at 60° with a normal anomaly for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The first few days are looking clean with a moderate offshore breeze out of the NNW, giving us some nice lined-up sets.
Monday morning kicks off with 4ft of SW swell at a very long 15 seconds, carrying moderate wave energy (788). That’s classic groundswell – long, powerful, and fat. It’ll be a bit of a wait between sets, but the paddle out will be easier, and the reef will handle that long period nicely. The afternoon bumps up to 5ft, still clean and offshore, and the energy climbs to 1045. This is the best on offer, no question. Experienced surfers only on this one – it’s quality, but it’s not for the groms.
Tuesday holds the same theme: 5ft in the morning with a 13-second period, still gentle offshore and clean. The afternoon eases back to 5ft, with a slight shift to a cross-offshore breeze, but still very clean. The energy stays moderate (700-821). This is your window if you missed Monday.
Wednesday the 22nd is where it all goes sideways. The wind swings onshore and freshens to 19 mph, and the rain sets in. The swell is still there, but it’s lumpy and messy. Not worth paddling out.
Thursday the 23rd sees a big jump in swell size – 10ft with a 14-second period – but the wind is howling cross-onshore at 22 mph. The energy is massive (3094), but it’s a total mess. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. Same story into Friday the 24th: 7-8ft swell, but the wind is still cross to cross-off, and the energy is huge (2294-3100). The conditions are marginal at best, and the tide is likely throwing a spanner in the works.
The weekend gets a little better. Saturday the 25th is still cross-shore and a bit lumpy, with 6-6ft swell. It’s still marginal. Sunday the 26th is the real comeback: the wind drops to a light breeze, turning cross-offshore, and the swell settles to 5-5ft with a 12-second period. The energy is low (575-624), but it’s clean. That’s a good Sunday session for the experienced crew.
The following week starts off clean again on Monday the 27th, with a fresh offshore breeze and 4ft swell. The energy is moderate (607-711). It’s marginal, but the wind is right. After that, on Tuesday the 28th, the onshore winds return and the swell becomes poor again, with lumpy, choppy conditions. The rest of the week into early August is a write-off: onshore winds, cross-shore chop, and messy conditions. The swell drops off to under 5ft, and the energy is weak. The last week of the forecast period is a long blank stretch of poor to marginal surf.
So, the standout is clearly Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st at Chinamans. That’s your window. After that, it’s a waiting game until Sunday the 26th for a decent, clean session. Beyond that, the long-range looks pretty grim, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Thu morning, light winds from the WSW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
788 | 1045 | 1307 | 821 | 700 | 409 | 885 | 826 | 2742 | 3094 | 3538 | 2725 | 2294 | 2055 | 1680 | 1242 | 1034 | 773 | 614 | 542 | 471 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:53PM0.77m | 6:08AM0.75m | 4:58PM0.66m | 6:59AM0.76m | 4:25PM0.58m | 8:11AM0.76m | 10:19AM0.78m | 11:59AM0.84m | 12:49PM0.90m | ||||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:59AM0.36m | 11:28PM0.20m | 11:50AM0.45m | 11:38PM0.21m | 1:03PM0.53m | 11:42PM0.22m | 11:35PM0.23m | 11:03PM0.24m | 10:07PM0.23m | 9:39PM0.22m | |||||||||||
7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
788 | 1045 | 1307 | 821 | 700 | 409 | 71 | 34 | 1244 | 3094 | 3538 | 2725 | 2294 | 1045 | 1680 | 1242 | 1034 | 773 | 614 | 542 | 471 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
— | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | — | 10 | 33 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | W 4 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 15 | — | — | — | W 4 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 5 |
9 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 885 | 826 | 2742 | — | — | — | 10 | 2055 | 682 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 25 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 160 | 546 | 546 | 738 | 1195 | 32 | 305 | 506 | 506 | 329 | 717 | 7 | 0 | 138 | 7 |
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.










