Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, NNW swell with 362 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s 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 01) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days at Inner Cut (The-Cut-Nelson-Harbour) are a tough watch. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The good news is, this spot is inconsistent, so a blank run like this isn’t totally out of the ordinary.
The first half of the forecast is a write-off. From Friday 31 July right through to Wednesday 6 August, it’s all tiny dribble and onshore junk. You’ve got swell heights from zero to maybe 4 ft, but with periods as low as 4 to 8 seconds, it’s weak and messy. The combined wave energy is practically nothing – a measly 145 (weak) at best, and mostly in the single digits. Winds are a mix of cross-on and cross, so it’s choppy and uninviting. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to get excited about.
Then, on Thursday 6 August, things start to look a little more interesting. The morning brings a clean, glassy 5 ft swell from the north with a 6-second period, and the energy jumps to 146 (moderate). The afternoon is actually the best we’ll see for a while: 5 ft of north swell, still glassy, and the energy packs a punch at 302 (moderate). It’s what we’d call surfable, but nothing special for the experienced crew.
Friday 7 August keeps the glassy conditions with a smaller 3 ft NNE swell in the morning, energy at 160 (moderate). The afternoon fades fast. After that, from Saturday 8 August right through to Saturday 15 August, it’s back to flatness. The odd 0.3 ft pulse with long periods (14-20 seconds) shows up, but the energy is next to nothing (1-12, very weak). Those long-period swells are too weak to break properly here, and with clean offshore winds, it’s just a pretty, flat ocean.
So, the standout window is Thursday 6 August afternoon. That 5 ft north swell with glassy conditions is your best bet. Don’t get your hopes up too high, it’s more of a small-scale session than a classic. The rest of the window is a solid “stay home and tune your board.”
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu night, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | N 8 | N 7 | NNW 14 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 21 | NNW 4 | NW 18 | NNW 4 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 417 | 145 | 70 | 75 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:36PM4.04m | 10:54AM3.84m | 11:09PM4.12m | 11:31AM3.88m | 11:43PM4.17m | 12:08PM3.87m | 00:18AM4.15m | 12:45PM3.83m | 00:54AM4.06m | 1:22PM3.77m | 1:34AM3.92m | 2:01PM3.68m | 2:20AM3.74m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:30AM0.92m | 5:00PM0.70m | 5:04AM0.80m | 5:31PM0.63m | 5:40AM0.73m | 6:03PM0.64m | 6:15AM0.70m | 6:35PM0.72m | 6:53AM0.75m | 7:12PM0.85m | 7:33AM0.86m | 7:55PM1.04m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Feels °C | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | N 3 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | ENE 3 | NW 16 | NW 4 | — | — | N 4 |
| kJ | 181 | 145 | 70 | 44 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 19 | NW 17 | NNW 9 | NNW 14 | NNW 14 | NW 13 | NNW 7 | — | NW 12 | N 21 | NW 19 | NW 18 | NW 17 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 15 | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 |
| kJ | 7 | 12 | 31 | 75 | 19 | 7 | 4 | — | 5 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 15 | — | NW 16 | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | N 6 | NW 7 | — | NW 11 | NW 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | — | 10 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NW 8 | W 3 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 417 | 330 | 5 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 113 | 0 | 28 | 97 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 101 | 336 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 68 | 68 | 68 |
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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