Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with 375 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s is also forecast. 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 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window is a quiet one for the Nelson area. The first few days are a write-off with tiny dribble and no real push. You’re looking at a solid gap from the start right through to the morning of Saturday the 8th of August before anything even registers as surfable, and even then, it’s pretty ordinary. The cleanest window comes on Sunday the 9th of August, but there are some big caveats.
The only spot on the cards is Inner Cut (The Cut-Nelson-Harbour). It’s a point break that’s inconsistent, so you can’t bank on it. When it does show, it’s fairly exposed to the swell. Water temp is sitting at 53°F, which is about normal for this time of year—nothing unusual there.
For the best of what’s on offer, aim for Sunday the 9th of August. The morning brings a 5ft swell from the north with a short 8-second period, and the combined energy reading is 227 (moderate). What saves it is the light cross-offshore breeze from the SSW, keeping the surface clean. The afternoon sees a tick up to 5ft from the north (9-second period) and combined energy jumps to 364, but it’s a cross-onshore wind from the north at 6 mph, which will mess up the face. This is a standout only because the rest of the run is so flat—it’s not a classic, but it’s the one day with some guts. Keep in mind that 5ft is borderline for beginners, and the short period means it won’t have much punch.
The morning of Thursday the 13th of August has a 4ft north-northeast swell (8-second period, 224 energy) with clean cross-offshore southerly breeze, but it’s still nothing special. After that, it’s back to tiny, poor conditions with a few long-period 16-second swells that are too weak to do anything—just a tease.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, Sunday the 9th is your only real shout. But don’t get your hopes up. This is a quiet patch, and the forecasts can change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 2°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 4 | NW 16 | NW 15 | N 14 | NW 16 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 | N 11 | NNW 4 | N 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 9 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 73 | 33 | 57 | 53 | 227 | 364 | 198 | 80 | 57 | 38 |
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-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:22PM3.77m | 1:34AM3.92m | 2:01PM3.68m | 2:20AM3.74m | 2:44PM3.55m | 3:15AM3.56m | 3:39PM3.38m | 4:22AM3.42m | 5:04PM3.26m | 5:41AM3.39m | 6:54PM3.38m | 7:01AM3.50m | 8:09PM3.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:12PM0.85m | 7:33AM0.86m | 7:55PM1.04m | 8:20AM1.03m | 8:53PM1.24m | 9:17AM1.22m | 10:14PM1.38m | 10:29AM1.36m | 11:41PM1.36m | 11:54AM1.37m | 00:58AM1.19m | 1:20PM1.22m | 2:04AM0.94m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | -1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NE 4 | NW 15 | N 14 | NW 5 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | — | NNW 3 | NW 11 | N 6 | N 5 | N 8 | N 7 | NW 18 | N 9 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 5 | 73 | 21 | 57 | 53 | 13 | 364 | 198 | 80 | 57 | 38 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | NW 16 | NW 5 | — | NW 13 | — | — | N 12 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | NNW 10 | N 8 | — | NW 18 | NW 15 | NW 18 | NW 18 | NW 16 | NW 16 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 10 | 1 | — | 7 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 33 | — | 13 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 16 | NW 5 | — | — | NW 16 | — | N 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 15 |
| kJ | 10 | 1 | — | — | 10 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 227 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 102 | 102 | 94 | 97 | 113 | 68 | 68 | 94 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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