Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, NNW swell with 462 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period with N 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 (Jul 24) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Inner Cut in the next 16 days are 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Well, it’s a pretty quiet picture for the next week or so, and honestly, there’s not much to get excited about for a while. For the first several days, from Sunday the 19th right through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny and the energy is weak. We’re looking at a lot of days with barely a ripple. The Inner Cut (Nelson Harbour) is inconsistent at the best of times, and this stretch is a real test of patience. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
The first real sign of life shows up on Wednesday the 29th of July. The morning brings a little bump with a 4ft swell from the northwest, but it’s a short-period 6 seconds, so it’s going to be weak and wobbly. The combined energy reading is 163 (moderate), and the wind is glassy, which is a good thing. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. By the afternoon, the swell jumps to 6ft from the north-northwest, but it’s onshore wind and the period is still a short 7 seconds, so it’s more of a messy, choppy option. The energy jumps to 355 (strong), but it’s not going to be much fun.
Thursday the 30th of July is a bit more interesting, but still not a standout. The morning has a clean 1ft swell from the north-northwest with a long period of 13 seconds. That’s a groundswell, and combined with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean. But it’s tiny. The afternoon picks up a 3ft swell from the north-northwest, with a very long period of 14 seconds, and a combined energy of 378 (strong). The wind is light and cross-shore. This is the best of a quiet bunch. That long period groundswell will offer some decent shape, but it’s a small wave for a spot that’s inconsistent. It’s not worth getting too worked up over.
The end of the month and start of August is a washout. Friday the 31st has some moderate breeze and a messy 2ft swell, and the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August is basically flat. The last few days of the forecast are empty.
So, what’s the call? If you’re desperate, Thursday the 30th of July afternoon offers the cleanest, most energetic surf of the whole two weeks, but it’s still a small wave. The rest is a long, flat stretch. The only real highlight is that Thursday afternoon window, and even that’s a “maybe” kind of session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu night, min 5°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 10 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | SW 3 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 462 | 76 | 25 | 328 | 69 | 407 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:19PM3.99m | 1:34AM4.01m | 2:00PM3.82m | 2:19AM3.79m | 2:42PM3.63m | 3:06AM3.57m | 3:27PM3.44m | 3:59AM3.37m | 4:21PM3.29m | 5:00AM3.22m | 5:32PM3.21m | 6:07AM3.15m | 6:58PM3.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:12PM0.81m | 7:41AM0.89m | 7:50PM1.02m | 8:26AM1.12m | 8:34PM1.27m | 9:16AM1.33m | 9:32PM1.51m | 10:12AM1.49m | 10:52PM1.66m | 11:13AM1.59m | 00:09AM1.68m | 12:16PM1.61m | 1:12AM1.60m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | |
 | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — |
 | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 4 | ENE 6 | — | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | NNW 3 | N 13 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | N 7 | NNW 16 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 9 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | 3 | 172 | 76 | 25 | — | 69 | 407 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | NE 4 | NE 4 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | — | NW 14 | — | — | — | NW 15 | — | NW 12 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 10 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 8 | — | — | — | 9 | — | 24 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 11 | N 11 | — | NW 14 | NW 14 | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | — | NW 16 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 8 | 8 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 39 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | — | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | — | WSW 2 | NNW 7 | W 4 | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 462 | — | 1 | 328 | 16 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 94 | 102 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 94 | 97 | 68 | 97 | 102 | 131 | 10 | 113 | 269 | 0 | 113 | 2 |
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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