Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 8,920 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m 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 3.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 3AM. 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 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for us at Chinamans. This is a reef setup, exposed to the SW, and it's an advanced wave, so we're talkin' proper take-offs and hollow sections. The water temp is sittin' at 59°F, bang on average for this time of year, so nothin’ wild there.
The window opens up on Sunday the 9th of August with some proper promise. The afternoon brings a clean 6 ft SW groundswell out of the southwest, with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is pumpin' hard at 2110 – that’s a serious pulse of power. The wind is a light offshore out of the NW, 9 mph, and it's describin' it as glassy and clean. This is easily the standout of the whole run. A bit of light rain in the air too – atmospheric. For an advanced crew on a reef, that’s as good as it gets.
Now, don’t get too excited for the next few days because the wheels fall off quick. Monday the 10th turns ugly with a 12 ft SW swell and a nasty cross-onshore wind. That's just a washing machine – kites and foils territory, not for the paddle crew. The week that follows is a mess of strong SW swell and cross-shore slop. From Monday the 10th right through to the Saturday the 23rd, we're lookin' at a lot of lumpy, windy, and just plain ugly conditions. There's a few afternoons where the wind drops, but the swell stays big and messy. Nothin' worth paddlin' out for unless you’re after a beatin'.
The whole of the second week is a write-off for clean, manageable waves until Sunday the 24th of August. That morning is still a bit rough, with a 10 ft SW swell and a light onshore, but the afternoon is a proper surprise. The wind goes fully glassy – 0 mph – and that 10 ft SW groundswell cleans right up. The energy is huge at 3402, and the conditions are glassy. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s for experts only, but if you can handle it, that Sunday afternoon session could be one for the books. That’s your second real standout, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the charts.
So to sum it up: the one to circle is Sunday the 9th of August afternoon – that’s the real gem. The other bright spot is the glassy Sunday on the 24th for the brave. The rest is a long, bumpy stretch of junk.
Stay safe, keep your wits about you, and paddle smart.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 19 | 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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1572 | 7424 | 6886 | 5319 | 2314 | 1006 | 1499 | 6489 | 6188 | 6115 | 4317 | 3827 | 3194 | 2999 | 4834 | 3756 | 2839 | 2157 | 1958 | 1402 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | on | 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 | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:18PM0.14m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | — | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 1572 | — | 4818 | 5319 | 2314 | 1006 | 1499 | — | — | — | 2119 | 3827 | 3194 | 2999 | 4834 | 3756 | 2839 | 2157 | 1958 | 1402 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 538 | — | — | — | — | 217 | 243 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 289 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | NW 6 | NNW 5 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 35 | 7424 | 6886 | 4328 | — | 123 | 90 | 6489 | 6188 | 6115 | 4317 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 546 | 717 | 1055 | 7 | 607 | 726 | 1034 | 738 | 717 | 717 | 163 | 32 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 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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