
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,133 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 15s period. 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 2.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
We’re looking at a classic run of south-west groundswell at Chinamans (reef). This is an advanced spot, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The action kicks off this Wednesday afternoon, the 15th of July. The swell is already a solid 7 ft from the SW, with a 14-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the NW. The combined energy is strong at 1624, so there’s plenty of grunt. It’s going to be clean, but at this size, it’s for experienced surfers only.
Thursday the 16th looks even better. The morning has a clean 7 ft SW swell, 15-second period, with a light cross-off breeze from the NNE. The afternoon is the standout: the wind swings to a light offshore NNW, the swell holds at 7 ft, and the period bumps up to 16 seconds. The energy is cranking at 2133. This is a proper groundswell, and for a reef break like Chinamans, that long period is going to produce some lined-up, powerful waves. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it’s worth it.
Friday the 17th is still good, with a 6 ft SW swell and 16-second period in the morning under a cross-off NNE breeze, and the afternoon cleans up with a light offshore N wind and 5 ft swell. Energy drops a bit but is still solid.
Heading into the weekend, Saturday the 18th sees the swell drop to 4 ft, and the wind is more cross-off, so it’s cleaner but smaller. Sunday the 19th is similar, with a dropping 3 ft swell, but the afternoon picks up a very long 18-second period, which is interesting for a reef, but the energy is moderate at 592.
The following week, from Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd, we’ve got a run of solid offshore winds, with swell hovering around 4 ft to 6 ft from the SW, and periods in the 12-15 second range. The energy stays moderate to strong. The best of that bunch is Wednesday the 22nd morning, when the wind goes glassy from the SW, and the swell is a clean 4 ft with a 12-second period. That’s a magic window for a more manageable session.
Then we get a bit of a pulse on Thursday the 23rd, with a 6 ft to 7 ft SW swell and 15-16 second period, but the wind is a moderate cross-off from the WNW. The energy is high again (1719-1808), but the cross-off wind might make it a bit tricky. It’s still good for the experienced crew.
The real standout for the whole period, though, is Saturday the 25th of July. The morning is a bit onshore, but the afternoon is a beauty: 8 ft of SW swell, 16-second period, with a cross-off breeze from the W. The energy is a massive 2662. That’s a serious, powerful groundswell hitting the reef, and with the wind in the right place, it’s going to be world-class. This is the one to circle on the calendar.
After that, the week of the 26th to the 29th looks more mixed. The swell sticks around at 5 ft to 8 ft, but the wind is often cross-on or fresh, making conditions less clean. The 28th of July has a glassy afternoon with 5 ft SW swell, which is a nice little window, but nothing compared to the 25th.
Finally, the 30th of July shows a long-period, 21-second SW groundswell at 3 ft, with a moderate offshore breeze. The energy is 950, so it’s a clean, long-period ocean swell, but small. For a reef, that long period will still produce some fun, glassy lines.
So, the best on offer is hands-down Thursday the 16th afternoon and Saturday the 25th afternoon. The 16th is cleaner, the 25th is bigger and more powerful. Take your pick.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1421 | 1801 | 2133 | 1581 | 1571 | 1265 | 746 | 526 | 444 | 326 | 212 | 602 | 1144 | 979 | 857 | 701 | 755 | 721 | 367 | 314 | 205 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:54AM0.45m | 3:09PM1.19m | 3:30AM0.53m | 3:42PM1.12m | 4:06AM0.61m | 4:11PM1.02m | 4:45AM0.67m | 4:36PM0.90m | 5:25AM0.72m | 4:53PM0.77m | 6:08AM0.75m | 4:58PM0.66m | 6:59AM0.76m | 4:25PM0.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:00PM0.16m | 7:50AM0.15m | 10:20PM0.16m | 8:40AM0.16m | 10:39PM0.17m | 9:28AM0.20m | 10:57PM0.18m | 10:13AM0.27m | 11:14PM0.19m | 10:59AM0.36m | 11:28PM0.20m | 11:50AM0.45m | 11:38PM0.21m | 1:03PM0.53m | |||||||
— | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | |
— | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
1421 | 1801 | 2133 | 1581 | 1571 | 1265 | 746 | 526 | 444 | 326 | 212 | 602 | 1144 | 979 | 857 | 701 | 755 | 721 | 367 | 314 | 205 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | NW 7 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 12 | W 7 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 22 | 18 | 186 | 144 | 14 | 30 | — | — | — | — | 167 | 34 | 103 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | NNE 3 | N 3 | N 3 | — | N 4 | — | — | N 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 4 | 6 | — | 6 | — | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











