
Surf Forecasts:
Chinamans surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, WSW swell with 6,652 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and get into what the ocean’s really serving up for our stretch of coast. It’s a tale of two parts this fortnight: a punchy, powerful start, then a lull that’ll test your patience before things start to wake up again.
The main event is all about this coming Wednesday and Thursday. We’ve got a proper pulse of southwest groundswell rolling in, and Chinamans is going to be the spot to be. It’s a reef break, so it handles this kind of energy perfectly. First light on Wednesday the 12th, we’re looking at head-high to well-overhead surf, around 12ft, with a solid 17-second period. The energy is pumping – we're talking a combined swell energy of 12038 in the morning – and the water's a warm 59°, which is about average for this time of year. The wind is the one let-down, as it’s cross-shore, which will put a bit of lump on the surface. Still, this is the biggest, most powerful swell we’re going to see. It’s a lot of water, so this one’s for the experienced crew only.
Thursday the 13th holds onto that size, with 10ft surf and a similar long-period SW swell, but the wind eases off a touch to a moderate cross-shore. The energy drops back a notch into the four-thousands (4136), but it’s still a solid, powerful day. Given the size and the wind, I’d be looking at this as a slightly easier, but still serious, option compared to Wednesday. Once you get past Friday, that big swell starts to fade, and we're left with a few days of junky, cross-onshore conditions. It’s not going to be pretty, so maybe leave the board in the car for the weekend.
That brings us to a dry spell. From Sunday the 16th through to Tuesday the 25th, it's a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions. We’re mostly looking at small, weak swell (the energy readings rarely get above 2000) and periods that aren't doing us any favors. There are a few cleaner windows with offshore or light winds, especially around the 20th and 21st, but the swell just isn't there to make it worthwhile. It’s a long, flat stretch, but don’t get too down. Forecasts can change, and it never stays this bleak for long around here.
Now, keep an eye on the very end of the window. Around Wednesday the 26th of August, there are hints of some life again. We’re looking at a solid 8ft SW swell rolling in with that long 16-second period, and best of all, the wind is forecast to be offshore. The energy is back up there (4317), and it's looking clean. It’s a week and a half away, so treat it as a promising thought rather than a certainty, but it has the makings of a proper standout session. That’s the one I’d be circling on the calendar.
Forget the flat days in between. The big two are Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th for pure power, and keep your fingers crossed for the 26th for a clean, solid payoff at the end.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1402 | 1482 | 4998 | 5550 | 5357 | 4869 | 4136 | 3511 | 4158 | 4209 | 3545 | 3293 | 2653 | 2285 | 1547 | 1196 | 1179 | 791 | 942 | 1004 | 1135 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 4:14AM0.81m | 4:04PM0.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:14AM0.18m | 10:15PM0.08m | ||||||||
7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 18 | — | SW 17 | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 |
1402 | 1482 | — | 3052 | — | 2349 | 4136 | 3511 | 4158 | 4209 | 3545 | 3293 | 2653 | 2285 | 1547 | 1196 | 1179 | 791 | 942 | 1004 | 1135 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 23 | SW 21 | SW 14 |
— | 227 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | 355 | 590 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 289 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | E 3 |
64 | 57 | 4998 | 5550 | 5357 | 4869 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 472 | 540 | 1034 | 738 | 729 | 162 | 32 | 162 | 0 | 7 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 13 |
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.











