
Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,664 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 15s period. 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 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 6PM. 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Rhino Head. This is a sheltered reef break, so it needs a solid push from the southwest to really get going, and we’ve got a window of that coming up. The water’s sitting at 59°F right now, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real action kicks off on Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. We’ve got a big 8ft SW groundswell rolling in with a very long 17-second period. The energy is strong (5082), but the wind is a cross-off at 15 mph, which keeps it ridable. It’s a little raw and the forecast says marginal, so it’s more for the keen crew than a perfect session.
Thursday, the 13th, sees the swell ease a touch to 7ft from the SSW, still with a long 16-second period. The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph cross-off, cleaning things up. It’s solid, but still a bit on the meaty side for a beginner.
Now, Friday morning, the 14th of August, is where it gets good. The swell drops to 6ft from the SSW, but the wind goes glassy. That’s a major positive. The setup is clean, the energy is still moderate (1832), and the conditions are looking very good. This is a standout for the week if you want pristine, lined-up waves without the wind hassle. Expect a bit of a wait between sets with that 16-second period, but the paddle out will be easy.
Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are a write-off. The wind swings onshore from the ESE, blowing the bump into the faces. The swell drops under 5ft, and the energy falls away. It’s a real shame after that Friday glass-off.
The entire following week, from the 17th through the 20th, is pretty grim. Onshore winds and a shrinking swell keep the scores low. We’re looking at a 4-day gap of poor surf before things look up again.
The next real chance comes on Friday, the 21st of August. The swell builds back to 6ft from the SW with a 12-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNW, and the energy is back up to 1204. The forecast is very good. This is the second standout of the run. It’s a cleaner, more powerful wave than the glassy Friday before, and the offshore flow will keep it groomed.
Saturday the 22nd gets a bit tricky. It’s a 6ft SW swell with a strong offshore wind from the WNW, but the wind is gusty at 15 mph. It’ll be clean but maybe a bit bumpy.
Sunday the 23rd is worth a mention for the afternoon. The wind goes offshore from the WNW again, and the 4ft SW swell has a very long 18-second period. The energy is moderate (1148) and the forecast is very good. This is a quieter, more refined day for the point break crew.
The last big push comes on Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th. We see a 8ft to 8ft SW swell with strong energy (2328). The wind is fresh from the NW and WNW. This is solid, powerful, and big. For the average surfer, this is getting into expert territory, but for the experienced crew, it’s a proper session. The wind is clean, but it’s a strong breeze, so factor that in.
The window closes out on Wednesday the 26th with a 6ft SW swell and light winds, and then a 5ft on the afternoon with a clean cross-off, again a very good wave. The last good look is on the 27th, but it’s dropping off.
So, the two best bets are Friday morning the 14th for that glassy, clean 6ft, and then Friday the 21st for the punchier 6ft with the cross-off. Everything else is a trade-off between size, wind, and crowds.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu night, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2912 | 2475 | 2178 | 1730 | 1953 | 1832 | 1809 | 1517 | 1257 | 1098 | 711 | 614 | 606 | 469 | 739 | 729 | 489 | 687 | 458 | 255 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 4:43AM0.83m | 4:16PM0.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:49AM0.25m | 10:25PM0.09m | |||||||
— | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
996 | 2475 | 2178 | 1730 | 1953 | 1832 | 1809 | 1517 | 1257 | 1098 | 711 | 614 | 606 | 469 | 739 | 729 | 489 | 687 | 458 | 255 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 26 | SW 24 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | — | W 6 | E 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 22 | 180 | 329 | — | 1 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | E 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 4 |
2912 | 1169 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 15 | 23 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 733 | 723 | 160 | 5 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 159 | 83 |
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.











