
Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, NNW swell with 497 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, it's Rusty here. Let's be straight with you about the outlook for The Cut. I've had a look and, to be honest, it's a pretty grim run for the next two and a half weeks. We're looking at a long, drawn-out period of nothing much to get excited about, so if you're hanging for a wave, maybe plan a trip away.
The first real window we get is a fleeting chance on Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning session at Inner Cut is the only thing on the board. We're looking at a weak little 4ft NW groundswell, and the period's short at 6 seconds, but the real story is the glassy conditions with a light W wind at 3 mph. That'll have the surface clean, which is a major positive. The water temp is 54°, which is about average for this time of year, so don't expect a shock. The combined energy is weak, sitting at 91, so it'll be small and weak. The big catch is that this spot is inconsistent, it only breaks sometimes, so it's really a roll of the dice. Thursday afternoon cleans up but drops to 3ft and goes cross-shore, so the quality drops off a cliff.
After that, the whole of the first week is a write-off, with Friday the 4th showing a messy 7ft swell but with a nasty cross-onshore wind, meaning it'll be choppy and poor. Saturday and Sunday don't offer a thing worth paddling out for, despite a long-period 17-second swell on Sunday morning; the onshore wind ruins it, and it's still tagged as poor.
We get a tiny glimpse of hope on Monday the 7th of September, with another ordinary session. The morning and afternoon see a small 3ft N swell with some clean winds. The combined energy is still weak, just 102 in the morning and 112 in the afternoon. It's surfable, but it's very ordinary.
From Tuesday the 8th of September onwards, it's a total desert. There are no decent recommendations at all for the next ten days. We see a few tiny 0.7ft and 0.9ft swells with cross-shore winds, and even a 14-second period swell on the afternoon of the 15th, but it's only 0.3ft and cross-shore, so forget it. The only other half-decent looking session is on the morning of Friday the 18th of September, with a 2ft NW swell and clean winds, but the energy is still weak at 43. Nothing stands out as a true standout; the whole 16-day window is a bust. For an area like this, a blank run this long is pretty normal, so don't be surprised.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 17 | N 6 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 20 | NW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
69 | 37 | 69 | 497 | 210 | 82 | 29 | 25 | 43 | 409 | 98 | 408 | 102 | 112 | 60 | 42 | 36 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 60 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | on |
High Tide | 1:33PM3.76m | 1:58AM3.66m | 2:17PM3.53m | 2:56AM3.42m | 3:20PM3.27m | 4:11AM3.25m | 5:04PM3.14m | 5:40AM3.23m | 6:55PM3.34m | 7:02AM3.38m | 8:00PM3.69m | 8:07AM3.63m | 8:46PM4.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:31PM0.95m | 7:56AM1.04m | 8:32PM1.22m | 8:57AM1.27m | 10:03PM1.42m | 10:17AM1.43m | 11:40PM1.39m | 11:55AM1.41m | 00:59AM1.16m | 1:21PM1.20m | 1:59AM0.86m | 2:24PM0.92m | 2:48AM0.58m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 16 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | — | N 5 | — | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | NW 15 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 8 | NW 5 | NNW 5 |
18 | — | 27 | — | 210 | 82 | 29 | 25 | 43 | — | — | 187 | 102 | 8 | 60 | 42 | 36 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 15 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 15 | — | NW 15 | — | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 16 | — | — | NNW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NNW 14 | NNE 3 | NW 5 | NNW 8 | — | N 8 | N 7 |
4 | — | 9 | — | 10 | 9 | 57 | 58 | 64 | — | — | 25 | 9 | 33 | 19 | 1 | 13 | 6 | — | 4 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 20 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 17 | N 6 | NNW 8 | — | N 8 | ENE 4 | NW 3 | — | SW 3 | — | — | NW 6 |
69 | 37 | 69 | 497 | — | — | — | 124 | 164 | 409 | 98 | 408 | — | 112 | 11 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 60 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 102 | 0 | 118 | 113 | 267 | 118 | 113 | 2 | 121 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 102 | 97 | 68 | 68 | 113 |
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










