Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,045 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rhino Head this week:
The surf forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rhino Head in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down this next couple of weeks at Rhino Head. We’re starting quiet, but there’s a bit of pulse building in the middle of the week before it gets rowdy.
Right now, Sunday the 30th has some small swell in the water, about 3ft from the SSW, but the wind is on it and it’s making a mess. Just poor surf conditions. The water temp is sitting around 59°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.
Monday the 31st is where we start to see a glimmer. Morning surf is marginal with 4ft SSW swell, but by the afternoon it cleans right up. The wind swings light and cross-off from the north, and we’re looking at 5ft of SSW groundswell with a gorgeous 18-second period. The wave energy is pumping at 1551, and conditions are expected to be very good. This is the first standout, a true clean little window.
Tuesday morning the 1st of September gets blown out by a strong NNW wind at 25 mph, so forget it. The afternoon gets a bit better with a fresh offshore breeze from the WNW, dropping to 3ft of clean but small swell. Not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate.
Wednesday the 2nd is a mixed bag – morning has a moderate cross-off breeze and 4ft SSW swell, but it’s only marginal. The afternoon picks up a bit to 6ft with a fresh offshore, but still marginal. Not our day.
Now, Thursday the 3rd of September looks proper. Morning rolls in with a moderate offshore breeze from the WNW, 6ft of SW swell, and the combined energy is 1942 – that’s solid. Very good surf conditions. The afternoon holds the same size and quality. This is another standout, right up there with Monday afternoon.
Friday the 4th gets messy. A fresh to near-gale northerly and northwesterly wind chops up the 5-6ft SSW swell. Poor conditions by the afternoon. Skip it.
Saturday the 5th is for the brave. We see 7-8ft of SW swell, but the wind is a strong cross-off. The energy is massive – 3316 in the afternoon – but it’s marginal at best with that much juice and a beach/reef setup. For most of us, that’s more of a kite-surfing scene than a paddle session.
Sunday the 6th through Monday the 7th of September brings more strong winds and even bigger lumps. By Monday afternoon, we’re looking at 10ft of SW swell but with a howling strong breeze. Poor conditions. Not for the average surfer.
Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th are next-level big. Tuesday sees 12ft swells with insane energy readings of 6874 and 6630 – but the wind is ripping strong cross-shore, making it a complete mess. Wednesday morning drops to 8ft with a light cross-on breeze, still marginal. Wednesday afternoon is the next true standout: 7ft of SSW groundswell with a light cross-off breeze from the WSW, glassy clean. The energy is 2860, and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. If you’re an expert, that’s your session right there.
Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th of September start to settle. Thursday sees clean but small 4-4ft SW swell with light winds – a nice mellow day. But Friday afternoon is a gem: 5ft of SSW swell, 16-second period, with glassy conditions and light air. That’s going to be smooth as butter.
The weekend of the 12th and 13th of September is a mixed bag – some clean afternoon windows with 5ft SW swell, but the winds are generally cross-off to moderate. Fairly consistent, but nothing that’ll blow you away. By Sunday the 14th, we’re back to small and lumpy, with poor conditions.
So to sum it up, your best bets are Monday 31st August afternoon (clean 5ft SSW groundswell) and Thursday 3rd September (solid 6ft SW, clean offshore). For the brave, Wednesday 9th September afternoon offers a real treat for experts. Anything in the second week is smaller and less certain, but the glassy Friday 11th is worth keeping an eye on.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, strong winds from the N by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
190 | 312 | 1044 | 749 | 1399 | 957 | 551 | 268 | 537 | 641 | 1163 | 1594 | 1119 | 1116 | 1907 | 1332 | 1117 | 3045 | 1665 | 1838 | 1929 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 3:05PM0.85m | 3:22AM0.78m | 3:23PM0.77m | 3:46AM0.86m | 3:39PM0.69m | 4:12AM0.91m | 3:51PM0.59m | 4:43AM0.92m | 3:53PM0.51m | 5:20AM0.90m | 3:32PM0.45m | 6:08AM0.84m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:19PM0.07m | 9:24AM0.09m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:57AM0.12m | 9:37PM0.04m | 10:33AM0.18m | 9:47PM0.02m | 11:12AM0.26m | 9:58PM0.00m | 12:03PM0.37m | 10:08PM0.00m | 10:11PM0.02m | |||||||||
6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 |
190 | 202 | 1044 | 749 | 1399 | 957 | 551 | 268 | 537 | 641 | 1163 | 1594 | 1119 | 1116 | 1907 | 1332 | 1117 | — | 277 | 1838 | 1929 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | — | ENE 4 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | — |
149 | 312 | 117 | 480 | 152 | — | 2 | 252 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 640 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 101 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | ENE 3 | — | N 2 | NNW 4 | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | W 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | — | — | NNW 4 | N 4 | SW 15 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | — |
3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 39 | 47 | 32 | 44 | 24 | 80 | 823 | — | — | 15 | 59 | 3045 | 1665 | 737 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 83 | 1182 | 721 | 154 | 535 | 535 | 723 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 677 | 1089 | 1180 | 1194 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rhino Head Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rhino Head provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rhino Head can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rhino Head 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 (Rhino Head) 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 Rhino Head 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 Rhino Head, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Yorke Peninsula, consider staying in Kingscote which is 75 km (47 miles) away.











