Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 6,620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 21s. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks. We’re starting a bit slow, but the second half of the period is looking seriously good.
The first real surf you’ll want to paddle out for is on Tuesday the 8th. Before that, we’ve got a few days of small, messy swell and iffy conditions—nothing to get your hopes up. From Tuesday the 8th, a big pulse of groundswell from the SW arrives, but the wind will be a problem for a few days, keeping things bumpy and choppy.
The big standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Monday the 21st of September. Chinamans is gonna be pumping. We’re talking a solid 12ft SW groundswell with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a deep-water, high-energy pulse (combined energy of 8640). The morning is absolute perfection: clear skies, a gentle offshore wind from the N, and the water’s a warm 59°F, which is about average for this time of year. The swell direction is right on the money for this reef break. The offshore wind will be grooming it perfectly, and those long-period lines will be stacking up nicely. This is a big, powerful, expert-only wave—over 8ft, so it’s not for the beginners. The crowd can be a factor here sometimes, but on a day this good, you’ll want to be in the water early.
Before that, we’ve got a few other decent windows. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are looking good with moderate offshore winds and a fun 4ft to 5ft SW swell. The energy is moderate (1062-838), but the conditions will be clean. Not a standout, but a solid weekend session.
Then Tuesday the 15th of September is another strong option. Clean conditions with a 9 mph offshore wind from the N and a solid 8ft SW groundswell (period 15 seconds). The energy is strong (2686), and the offshore wind will make for some excellent, hollow waves. This one is over 5ft, so it’s for the more experienced crew.
There’s a long stretch of poor conditions from the 16th through the 20th, with strong winds and lumpy sea, so give it a miss. The 21st is the real gem.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri night, min 10°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Wed morning, light winds from the ESE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2223 | 1762 | 933 | 537 | 579 | 2730 | 2790 | 2326 | 2404 | 6102 | 6620 | 5534 | 3978 | 2905 | 1715 | 1343 | 1547 | 1591 | 1062 | 757 | 379 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 11:29AM0.78m | 12:33PM0.85m | 2:08AM0.36m | 1:12PM0.89m | 1:56AM0.47m | 1:43PM0.90m | 2:08AM0.60m | 2:11PM0.87m | 2:29AM0.72m | 2:36PM0.82m | 2:51AM0.82m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 9:54PM0.06m | 9:04PM0.10m | 8:31PM0.11m | 6:00AM0.26m | 8:23PM0.10m | 7:02AM0.17m | 8:25PM0.08m | 7:47AM0.09m | 8:34PM0.06m | 8:25AM0.05m | 8:44PM0.04m | ||||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 21 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 2223 | 1762 | 933 | 537 | 579 | 2730 | 2790 | 1214 | 2404 | 6102 | 6620 | 5534 | 3978 | 2905 | 1715 | 1343 | 1547 | 1591 | 1062 | 757 | 346 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 26 | SW 25 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | SW 18 |
| kJ | — | — | 21 | 116 | 341 | 238 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 25 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 379 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | SE 4 | — | SW 16 | SSW 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | 2326 | 35 | 49 | 49 | 26 | — | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 32 | 32 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 546 | 32 | 1226 | 1256 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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