Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, NNW swell with 181 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Inner Cut this week:
The surf forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Inner Cut in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surf’s up... or, well, it’s gonna be a bit of a wait. The next 16 days are looking pretty flat and quiet for the Nelson area. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing happening, and then a glimmer of hope towards the end, but even that’s not really gonna get the heart pounding.
Right now, and for the next week or so, it’s just dead. The swell is non-existent. We’re looking at a run of days with basically nothing on the cards. It’s a real bummer, but it happens. The forecasts can change, so don't write it off completely, but for now, the boards are staying in the shed.
The only real action starts to show up on August 27th. We’ve got a bit of a pulse of energy coming through, with the combined energy of all swells directed here hitting 115 in the morning and then 158 in the afternoon. It’s still small though, with the swell pushing in at 5ft from the NNW. It’s not big, but it’s the most we’ve seen all week. The Inner Cut is a point break, and that period is only 5-6 seconds, so it’s not got any real push behind it. It’ll be a bit soft and wonky, but it’s surfable. There’s also some clean light offshore wind in the morning, which will be nice if you’re keen for a paddle.
The next day, the 28th, holds a little more of that same energy, with the combined energy hitting 182. The swell drops a bit to 3ft in the morning, but the period bumps up to 8 seconds, so it might have a tiny bit more shape to it. Still, we’re not talking about anything spectacular. It's just enough to get wet.
So there you have it. A long, flat spell, and then a couple of days of pretty ordinary, small surf. It’s not a great outlook, but for the Inner Cut, a spot that’s already inconsistent, this kind of blank run isn’t out of the ordinary. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, maybe catch up on some sleep.
Later, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun afternoon, min 2°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 16 | NNW 15 | NNW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 14 | NW 15 | SW 2 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NNW 4 | N 14 | N 16 | N 16 | N 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 52 | 163 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 12:07PM4.20m | 00:21AM4.22m | 12:43PM4.06m | 00:58AM4.02m | 1:19PM3.88m | 1:37AM3.78m | 1:55PM3.67m | 2:18AM3.51m | 2:35PM3.45m | 3:08AM3.25m | 3:23PM3.24m | 4:11AM3.03m | 4:34PM3.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:03PM0.54m | 6:23AM0.57m | 6:34PM0.71m | 7:00AM0.80m | 7:07PM0.95m | 7:39AM1.04m | 7:44PM1.24m | 8:21AM1.28m | 8:33PM1.52m | 9:11AM1.50m | 9:52PM1.75m | 10:12AM1.67m | 11:30PM1.80m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 16 | NNW 15 | E 3 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 14 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 17 | NW 16 | — | NW 4 | NW 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | — |
| kJ | 25 | 23 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | — | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 52 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 15 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | NW 16 | NW 15 | — | N 14 | N 16 | N 16 | N 15 | N 7 | N 21 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 23 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 8 | — | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 5 | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | S 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 241 | 163 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 102 | 97 | 97 | 94 | 97 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 97 | 97 | 102 | 68 | 68 | 102 | 68 | 68 | 101 | 101 | 68 | 68 | 121 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Inner Cut surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Inner Cut Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Inner Cut provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Inner Cut can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Inner Cut 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 (Inner Cut) 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 Inner Cut 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 Nelson - Tasman Bay? If you are looking for accommodation near Inner Cut, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - Tasman Bay, consider staying in Nelson which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Blenheim which is 64 km (40 miles) away
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