Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with 2,140 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (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 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. 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 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Listen up, crew. We’re looking at Rhino Head for the next two weeks. It’s a sheltered reef break, pretty consistent, and loves a solid SW groundswell. The water’s about average for the season, so no surprises there.
The first few days are dead. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are completely flat and not worth the walk. Monday the 31st of August starts to show some life, but it’s still a bit messy in the morning.
The first real gem hits Monday afternoon, the 31st. We’re looking at 5-foot swell from the SSW with a long 18-second period, and the ocean’s pumping out 1551 units of energy (moderate to strong). The wind is almost nothing – a light north cross-off at 3 mph – leaving the surface glassy. It’ll be clean fun waves, but keep an eye out for crowds.
Wednesday the 2nd of September afternoon is another good call. The swell steps up to 6 feet from the SW, with a clean offshore wind from the west at 16 mph. The energy bumps to 1328 (moderate to strong). Clean, lined-up reef riding.
Thursday the 3rd of September keeps that quality rolling. Both morning and afternoon deliver 5 to 6 feet of SW swell with offshore breezes. This is prime Rhino Head form.
Then the weather turns. Friday the 4th brings rain and gusty wind. Saturday the 5th has some decent 7-foot swell but the cross-off wind holds it back. Sunday the 6th is big – 10 to 12 feet – but the wind is screaming, and that size is only for the very experienced, even then it’s a struggle.
Into the second week, the standout is Thursday the 10th of September. Morning brings a solid 7-foot SSW swell at a long 16 seconds, with a northwest offshore at 13 mph. The energy is a strong 2511 (strong to very strong). Afternoon cleans up even more with a gentle offshore. This is excellent surf, but definitely for experts only.
Friday the 11th of September morning is smaller at 4 feet but stays clean. After that, the swell drops, and by Sunday the 13th, it’s small and howling wind again.
So the best bets are Monday afternoon, the 31st of August, for a mellow, clean session, and Thursday the 10th of September for stronger, more powerful waves for the experienced crowd.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 469 | 257 | 199 | 190 | 312 | 911 | 749 | 1399 | 957 | 641 | 298 | 523 | 729 | 1289 | 1255 | 1067 | 976 | 1095 | 1140 | 869 | 2140 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:45PM0.90m | 3:02AM0.70m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:11PM0.08m | 8:51AM0.09m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — |
| kJ | 469 | 257 | 199 | 190 | 202 | 911 | 749 | 1399 | 957 | 641 | 211 | 523 | 729 | 1289 | 1255 | 1067 | 976 | 1095 | 1140 | 869 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 17 | WSW 8 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — |
| kJ | — | 21 | 116 | 149 | 312 | 117 | 480 | 152 | — | — | 298 | 6 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | ENE 2 | — | NNE 2 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | WSW 5 | — | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — | N 3 | NW 4 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 22 | 31 | 26 | — | 39 | 43 | 632 | 538 | — | 7 | 40 | 2140 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 157 | 7 | 541 | 584 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 157 | 7 | 1180 |
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.
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