Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.0° C
0.4° 

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


Chinamans surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,039 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 21s. 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Sat 22nd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 3PM (Sat 22nd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Most Powerful 9PM (Fri 21st Aug)8ft (2.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting off a bit slow, but there’s a proper stand-out window shaping up for the experts. The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

The first real action kicks off Wednesday afternoon, the 19th, at Chinamans. It’s a reef break, exposed to the swell, and we’ve got a 8ft swell from the west-southwest with a long 15-second period. The energy is pumping hard at 3102 (moderate to strong). The wind is a fresh cross-offshore from the west at 22 mph, keeping things clean. It’s a solid start, but the conditions are a bit marginal, likely due to tide. Not the best of the bunch, but it’s a taste of what’s coming.

From Thursday the 20th through to the morning of Sunday the 24th, we’ve got a mixed bag. The swell sticks around, mostly between 4ft and 8ft, with long periods (14-17 seconds) from the southwest. The energy stays moderate to strong (values between 1246 and 2913). The wind is a bit of a problem – cross-shore or cross-offshore, sometimes moderate to fresh. It’s clean enough at times, but the quality is just “marginal” or “excellent for experienced surfers” at best. Not a standout period.

Then we hit a bit of a flat patch. Monday the 24th afternoon and Tuesday the 25th are poor, with messy, choppy conditions. The swell drops to 4ft on Monday, and by Tuesday the wind is swinging cross-onshore, making a mess of it. Wednesday the 26th morning is still marginal, but the afternoon cleans up again with a light cross-offshore breeze and a 5ft swell from the west-northwest. That’s a nice little window.

But the real gold is waiting for us on Thursday the 27th afternoon and Friday the 28th. Thursday arvo, the swell jumps to 8ft from the southwest with a massive 19-second period, and the energy is cranking at 5801 (strong). The wind is a moderate offshore from the north at 12 mph – clean, glassy lines. This is exceptional for experts. Friday morning tops it: a 10ft southwest swell, 16-second period, and the energy is a whopping 9223 (very strong). The wind is moderate offshore from the north at 16 mph. That’s a serious session for the crew who can handle it. Friday afternoon holds similar size and energy, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the northeast. These two days are the clear standouts.

After that, the swell drops off. The weekend of the 29th and 30th is a mix of marginal and poor conditions, with the wind turning cross-shore or cross-onshore. The 30th afternoon has a small 3ft swell from the southwest with a very long 20-second period, but it’s clean. Worth a look if you’re not after size.

The first few days of September are a write-off: small swells, poor winds, and choppy conditions. The energy drops to the hundreds (weak to moderate). It’s a quiet end to the outlook.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 13°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

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

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
16
2
WSW
16
2.3
SW
15
2
SW
14
2.3
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
2.3
SW
15
2
SW
15
2.1
SW
17
1.9
SW
16
1.5
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.6
SW
13
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1370
1629
2032
2390
1580
2913
2963
2550
2199
1638
2414
1809
936
581
588
821
2035
1374
943
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
30
NW
25
WSW
20
WSW
15
WSW
20
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
5
ENE
10
NNE
15
NNW
15
NW
15
W
15
WSW
20
S
20
SSE
20
SSE
10
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
on
High Tide
5:43AM0.79m
3:52PM0.52m
6:19AM0.74m
1:59PM0.52m
7:29AM0.68m
12:20PM0.72m
12:56PM0.79m
3:38AM0.37m
1:22PM0.86m
2:36AM0.40m
Low Tide
10:31PM0.11m
12:00PM0.43m
10:32PM0.12m
1:14PM0.52m
10:26PM0.13m
10:07PM0.15m
9:39PM0.15m
9:15PM0.15m
5:30AM0.36m
9:03PM0.14m
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:55
5:57
 mm
1
Temp °C
14
14
14
13
14
14
14
13
13
13
14
14
15
15
15
13
13
14
11
Feels °C
9
8
9
8
10
9
10
10
10
12
11
11
12
12
12
9
9
9
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Chinamans:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Chinamans surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest