Surf Forecasts:
Rhino Head surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 19s period, SSW swell with 3,001 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 17s 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 2.1m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rhino Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get stuck into what the next couple of weeks are looking like for Rhino Head. It's a bit of a mixed bag, so don't expect to just paddle out any old time. The wait might be a little frustrating, but there's a solid pay-off if you're patient.
Right now, starting Monday the 7th, we've got a small 3ft SW swell rolling in, but it's not doing us any favours. Onshore winds are messing it up, and the wave energy is weak at 440. The water is sitting at 59°, which is right about average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there. Honestly, it's a write-off for a paddle.
Tuesday the 8th actually offers more size, with 5ft SSW swells, but the quality is questionable. The morning has a cross-onshore breeze, making it lumpy. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-offshore wind from the SW, but it's still a bit messy. The energy is getting robust though, hitting 1214. It’s surfable, but you'll have to work for it.
We hit a real rough patch from Wednesday the 9th through to Friday the 11th. Swells are pushing over 7ft but the wind is just brutal, onshore and gusty over 19 mph. The energy is massive, peaking at 3061, but the conditions are just poor. This is more of a kiter's window than a surfer's. Leave the boards at home for that stretch.
Saturday the 12th is where it starts to get interesting. It's not the biggest swell, only around 4ft to 4ft from the SSW, but the wind turns in our favour. Light to gentle N/NE cross-offshore breezes will have the place feeling clean and glassy. The combined energy is a solid 652, and the forecast is calling for good surf conditions. This will be the call for the week for a fun, clean session on a longboard or a fish.
Sunday the 13th drops back down to 3ft, and winds go gusty again, shredding the surface. Monday the 14th is a no-go with a 3ft swell and fresh 19 mph offshore winds that are just too strong. The next few days are a bit of a write-off with onshore winds and poor quality, though there are glimpses of clean, surfable conditions that are just too ordinary.
The real standout of the whole outlook is a full week away, on Sunday the 20th. We get a solid 6ft SW swell with a period of 16 seconds – a nice groundswell. The winds are forecast to be light N/NE, giving us cross-offshore conditions. The combined energy is pumping at over 1600. This is the session to circle on the calendar. The forecast says "very good," and for a sheltered reef like Rhino Head, this should handle that long-period energy well. The following Monday and Tuesday the 21st and 22nd should also offer fun, clean leftovers. Keep an eye on that Sunday.
Talk soon,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Fri morning, fresh winds from the N by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 828 | 1352 | 1214 | 1155 | 3001 | 2894 | 2263 | 1713 | 1273 | 740 | 576 | 749 | 798 | 641 | 516 | 252 | 469 | 367 | 318 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy |
High Tide | 12:33PM0.85m | 2:08AM0.36m | 1:12PM0.89m | 1:56AM0.47m | 1:43PM0.90m | 2:08AM0.60m | 2:11PM0.87m | 2:29AM0.72m | 2:36PM0.82m | 2:51AM0.82m | 2:58PM0.75m | 3:15AM0.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:31PM0.11m | 6:00AM0.26m | 8:23PM0.10m | 7:02AM0.17m | 8:25PM0.08m | 7:47AM0.09m | 8:34PM0.06m | 8:25AM0.05m | 8:44PM0.04m | 9:00AM0.04m | 8:56PM0.02m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 6:06 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 828 | 1352 | 1214 | 1155 | 3001 | 2894 | 2263 | 1713 | 1273 | 740 | 576 | 749 | 798 | 641 | 516 | 211 | 469 | 367 | 318 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 26 | S 26 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | ENE 4 | WSW 6 | NE 4 |
| kJ | 238 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 252 | 1 | 14 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | — | — | S 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ENE 2 | — | NNE 3 | N 3 | NNE 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | W 4 |
| kJ | 11 | — | — | 16 | 60 | 58 | 58 | 23 | 9 | 21 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 5 | 541 | 30 | 1219 | 1756 | 28 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 83 | 0 | 83 | 468 | 0 | 0 |
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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