Surf Forecasts:
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 Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (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 ForecastModerate 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 SummaryMostly 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 | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | — | 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 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 18 | — | SW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 4818 | 5155 | 2314 | 1521 | 2393 | — | 2030 | 3376 | 2320 | 4189 | 3204 | 2686 | 5562 | 4525 | 3097 | 2687 | 2453 | 1784 | 1374 | 1048 | 715 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 8 | SSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 93 | 229 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 408 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | NW 5 | NNW 5 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6886 | 4328 | — | 102 | 83 | 5473 | 5808 | 5606 | 4382 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 728 | 943 | 0 | 472 | 472 | 1034 | 1034 | 717 | 162 | 162 | 162 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 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.
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