Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 10 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.0° C
0.3° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,886 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s 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 11) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 16s 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 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 11th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 11th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 10th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Chinamans for the next couple of weeks.

We kick things off with a big slug of SW groundswell. The combined wave energy is through the roof, reading up to 11704 early Monday morning – that’s a massive amount of power. The water temp is 59°, right around average for the time of year.

Chinamans is a reef break for advanced surfers, and it’s fairly consistent. It’s wide open to the SW swell, and the optimum direction is SW, so the alignment is spot on.

From Monday the 10th through the end of the week, the swell is running between 8ft and 11ft, but the wind is a real problem. Monday morning has a strong 22 mph cross-on from the SW, making it lumpy and poor. Tuesday sees offshore winds up to 25 mph, so the faces are clean, but that wind speed makes paddling in tough. The swell is around 7ft with a very long 18-second period – long waits, powerful waves, strictly for experts.

Wednesday and Thursday stay around 10ft with cross-shore wind and chop. Not great. Friday the 14th has a gentle breeze, still 10ft swell, but lumpy.

The standout is Tuesday the 18th. Morning brings a clean 4ft swell, pushing to 5ft in the afternoon, with a light offshore breeze from the north. That’s glassy, clean, and the 18-second period will give you long, powerful lines. The combined energy is moderate at 1476, but the conditions are primo. Crowds are possible here, but for that session, it’s worth it.

After the 18th, the swell drops. From the 19th to the 20th, it’s around 4ft to 5ft, clean but low energy (under 1000). Rideable, but not exciting.

Then comes a rough patch. From the 21st through the 24th, the wind is howling – up to 40 mph from gale-force directions, with onshore and cross-on conditions. The swell is up to 10ft but totally blown out. The 22nd has 10ft swell with 40-65 mph wind – a full-on storm, not for surfing.

By the 25th, it calms down. Clean 5ft swell with moderate cross-offshore wind and moderate energy. A clean, manageable session.

So, the best call is Tuesday the 18th for that clean, offshore, long-period groundswell at Chinamans. The first week has size but bad wind. The second week fades out. Pick your day, and that Tuesday is the one.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon night, strong winds from the WNW by Tue afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

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

Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
6
4
3
3
0
5
6
5
3
3
3
5
4
3
3
2
2
3
3
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
SW
17
3
WSW
16
2.2
SW
16
1.9
SW
14
2
SW
18
3
SW
17
3
SW
17
3
SW
17
3
SW
16
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
15
3
SW
17
3
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.3
SW
16
2.3
SW
16
2.1
SW
15
1.8
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
1.4
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6886
5155
2314
1521
2393
5473
5808
5606
4382
4189
3204
2686
5562
4525
3097
2687
2453
1784
1374
1048
715
Wind (km/h)
35
SW
30
WSW
20
NNW
35
NNW
40
NNW
35
SW
30
WSW
30
SW
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
WSW
15
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
10
SE
10
SE
15
SE
15
SE
10
ESE
10
S
15
E
Wind State
cross-on
cross
off
off
off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
12:25PM0.97m
2:55AM0.27m
1:14PM1.05m
2:11AM0.35m
1:53PM1.08m
2:26AM0.46m
2:27PM1.08m
2:49AM0.57m
2:57PM1.03m
3:17AM0.67m
3:23PM0.96m
3:45AM0.75m
3:46PM0.86m
Low Tide
9:24PM0.14m
4:16AM0.27m
9:11PM0.13m
6:22AM0.21m
9:14PM0.12m
7:25AM0.15m
9:24PM0.11m
8:14AM0.11m
9:36PM0.09m
8:57AM0.11m
9:50PM0.09m
9:36AM0.13m
10:03PM0.08m
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
 mm
1
10
1
Temp °C
12
13
13
14
15
12
13
14
14
13
14
15
14
14
14
13
13
13
12
12
12
Feels °C
5
7
8
7
6
6
6
7
9
9
10
11
10
11
11
10
9
8
9
9
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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