
Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 3,695 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rhino Head in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 13th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what the ocean’s cooking up for Rhino Head over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real moments of glory if you’re patient.
Water temp is sitting right around 59°, which is dead average for July, so no surprises there.
First thing’s first: the first few days are a bust. You’ve got a solid 8ft SW swell, but that wind is howling at 22 mph. It’s cross-off, but that fresh breeze is going to tear up the surface. Not worth the paddle.
Monday the 14th is a bit better. Swell drops to 7ft from the SSW, wind is a moderate breeze but still cross-off. It’s clean, but nothing to write home about.
Now, Wednesday the 16th is where you want to be. We’re looking at a glassy morning with a light breeze from the ENE at just 3 mph. The swell is a clean 5ft from the SW with a 15-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell – full of energy and shape. The combined energy is moderate (905), but the big story is the total lack of wind. The afternoon goes completely glassy, zero wind. It’s gonna be a stunning day of clean lines. The waves aren’t huge, but the conditions will be absolutely perfect.
A quick note on Thursday the 17th afternoon: that one also looks very nice. A light cross-off breeze from the NNW, and a 4ft SSW swell with a super-long 17-second period. That’s some serious push (energy 1105), but that kind of period can make it break a little straight, so it might be tricky. Still, it’ll be clean and powerful.
We hit a flat, windy stretch from Saturday the 19th through the middle of next week. Tiny waves and gusty winds. Not much doing.
But then… mark your calendars for Monday the 21st of July. The forecast is showing a solid 8ft SW groundswell, 15-second periods, and a clean offshore wind from the WNW. This is big, powerful stuff – over 8ft is expert-only, and at 8ft it’s getting right up there. The combined energy is a massive 5025, which is very strong. This is the real deal for experienced surfers. The standout of the whole outlook.
After that, the swell backs off to smaller, 3ft to 4ft waves on Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd, with glassy and clean conditions again. Good for a fun session, but nothing epic.
Further out, Saturday the 26th brings a 6ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy. The afternoon cleans up nicely, though. A 6ft SW swell with a light offshore breeze. That could be a very good session.
The very end of the run, Sunday the 27th and Monday the 28th, has some clean, waist-high leftovers. Surfable, but nothing special.
So, to wrap it up: Wednesday the 16th is your call for glassy, pure quality on smaller waves. Monday the 21st of July is the big dog – the powerful, expert-only swell with clean offshore wind. Don’t miss it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun morning, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1697 | 1697 | 1875 | 3098 | 2978 | 3301 | 2599 | 2007 | 1288 | 905 | 763 | 614 | 476 | 998 | 921 | 832 | 631 | 401 | 215 | 178 | 161 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:14PM1.07m | 1:22AM0.26m | 1:06PM1.16m | 1:50AM0.30m | 1:51PM1.21m | 2:20AM0.37m | 2:32PM1.22m | 2:54AM0.45m | 3:09PM1.19m | 3:30AM0.53m | 3:42PM1.12m | 4:06AM0.61m | 4:11PM1.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:31PM0.21m | 3:57AM0.24m | 9:29PM0.18m | 5:42AM0.21m | 9:42PM0.16m | 6:52AM0.17m | 10:00PM0.16m | 7:50AM0.15m | 10:20PM0.16m | 8:40AM0.16m | 10:39PM0.17m | 9:28AM0.20m | 10:57PM0.18m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
538 | 456 | 622 | 3098 | 2978 | 3301 | 2599 | 2007 | 1288 | 905 | 763 | 614 | 476 | 998 | 921 | 832 | 631 | 401 | 215 | 178 | 161 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 21 | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | — | — | — | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | W 7 | SW 22 |
— | — | 45 | — | — | — | 376 | 406 | 64 | — | — | — | 143 | 106 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 8 | 118 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 24 | SSW 22 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 46 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 6 | SW 16 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | NNE 3 | NE 2 | NE 3 | NE 3 | NE 2 | N 3 | N 3 | N 3 |
1697 | 1697 | 1875 | 117 | 1428 | 247 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1180 | 1268 | 712 | 1028 | 1432 | 724 | 155 | 155 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 83 | 5 | 5 | 83 | 83 | 143 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Yorke Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










