Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,398 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s get into it.
Alright, we’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, all pointing at one spot: Chinamans. This is a reef break, exposed to SW swell, and it’s pretty consistent. The water’s sitting at 59.2°, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.
The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Sunday afternoon, August 2nd, we’ve got a 8.2ft WSW swell with a 15-second period, but it’s blowing a fresh 22 mph cross-off wind. The energy’s strong at 3324, but the conditions are marginal – questionable tide, so it’s not a standout. Monday, August 3rd, is similar, with 8.2ft and 7.2ft SW swell, cross wind at 16 mph, and the energy drops from 3891 to 2937. It’s rough, with moderate cross-shore chop. Tuesday, August 4th, is where things start looking up. Morning has a 5.2ft SW swell, 12-second period, light wind, and energy of 1010 – still marginal. But Tuesday afternoon? That’s glassy. A 4.6ft SW swell, 15-second period, and only 3 mph WNW wind. The glassy conditions mean clean waves, even if the energy’s moderate at 952. It’s a nice, mellow session.
Wednesday, August 5th, morning is small with a 3.0ft SW swell and 19-second period, but the wind’s a cross-off 12 mph NNE. The energy’s weak at 889. But Wednesday afternoon – that’s a standout. We’ve got a 4.3ft SW swell, 18-second period, and a 12 mph NNW offshore wind. The energy jumps to 1139, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. Clean, offshore lines – this is the best of the first week. Thursday, August 6th, keeps the fun going: morning has 4.3ft SW swell, 16-second period, gentle offshore wind, and energy of 965. Thursday afternoon is even better – 4.9ft SW swell, 16-second period, 6 mph NW offshore wind, and energy of 1392. Glassy, clean, and excellent for experienced surfers.
Friday, August 7th, gets a bit bigger – 7.5ft and 6.9ft SW swell, 16-17 second period, but the wind’s a cross-off 16 mph NNE. The energy’s strong at 2733 and 2442, but the conditions are marginal. Saturday, August 8th, is similar: 6.6ft and 6.2ft SW swell, 15-16 second period, but the wind picks up to 28 mph NNW offshore in the morning, making it hard to paddle into. The afternoon’s a bit better with 19 mph cross-off. Still, the energy’s strong at 1953 and 1697, but it’s not the cleanest.
Now, Sunday, August 9th, things get wild. Morning has a 9.8ft SW swell, 15-second period, and a strong 25 mph WSW cross wind – poor conditions, energy at 4408. But Sunday afternoon? That’s a standout. 11.5ft SW swell, 16-second period, 19 mph WSW cross wind, and energy of 9311. It’s big, lumpy, and choppy, but the energy is huge. This is for experienced surfers only. Monday, August 10th, stays big: 11.5ft SW swell, 16-second period, with 19 mph WNW cross-off wind in the morning and 16 mph WSW cross wind in the afternoon. Energy’s at 5478 and 6043 – still massive, but the cross-chop makes it messy.
Tuesday, August 11th, is another
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun night, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the N by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2634 | 4004 | 2509 | 1822 | 1137 | 799 | 836 | 483 | 529 | 1019 | 865 | 897 | 1151 | 2766 | 2733 | 2442 | 1783 | 1953 | 1697 | 3365 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 3:48PM0.94m | 4:17AM0.69m | 4:06PM0.85m | 4:45AM0.76m | 4:21PM0.75m | 5:18AM0.80m | 4:29PM0.65m | 5:59AM0.83m | 4:19PM0.55m | 6:55AM0.84m | 8:33AM0.83m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:24PM0.15m | 9:54AM0.23m | 10:33PM0.15m | 10:33AM0.28m | 10:42PM0.14m | 11:17AM0.35m | 10:51PM0.12m | 12:14PM0.44m | 11:00PM0.11m | 11:08PM0.10m | 11:05PM0.12m | |||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  |  |  | |
 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 592 | 1001 | 1382 | 1115 | 1137 | 799 | 836 | 440 | 360 | 1019 | 865 | 897 | 1151 | 2766 | 2733 | 2442 | 1783 | 1953 | 1697 | 788 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | — | — | — | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | WNW 5 | SW 20 | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 98 | — | — | — | 354 | 211 | 116 | 483 | 529 | 120 | 10 | 63 | 241 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | W 5 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 2634 | 4004 | 2509 | 1822 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 34 | 113 | 80 | 85 | 3365 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 162 | 540 | 163 | 506 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 726 | 11 | 1186 |
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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