Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with 2,042 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with NW 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 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a flat, quiet stretch for Nelson Harbour. There’s a couple of moments that might get your heart rate up, but you’ll need to pick your day.
The start is dead. Wednesday the 5th through Saturday the 8th are all tiny, messy, or flat. Some mornings look glassy, but the swell is barely a ripple – 0.3ft to 1ft, short period. Not worth getting wet.
Saturday the 8th shows a slight pulse: a glassy 3ft swell in the morning, but it’s weak and short period... combined energy is just 58 (weak). Surfable if you’re bored.
Then Sunday the 9th brings some serious power: a 10ft swell from the NNW, period 10 seconds, but with a light cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is huge at 2977 (very strong), but the message says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions”. That size and a cross-onshore breeze? This one’s more for the kite crew than paddle surfers. A messy, powerful beast.
Monday the 10th drops back to 2ft and weak energy.
The real standout is Friday the 14th. The morning at Inner Cut (Nelson Harbour) is looking good. A 5ft swell from the NNE, combined energy at 345 (moderate), and the wind is glassy. Glassy! That’s clean water, light air, and a decent little wave. The period is 9 seconds – not a long groundswell, but enough for a fun ride. The wind stays light offshore in the morning. This is your best shot in the whole window. It’s a point break and it’s inconsistent, so you might wait a bit, but when it comes, it’ll be tidy. Water temp? About average for this time of year.
After that, it fades. Saturday the 15th has a tiny 1ft swell with a very long 19-second period – proper groundswell, but way too small. Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th are clean but tiny – 0.7ft, combined energy 41 and 26. Not worth it.
So, it’s a lean run. If you’re keen, circle Friday the 14th for a glassy session at Inner Cut. It won’t be pumping, but it’ll be your cleanest chance. The rest? Save the wax.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu afternoon, min 3°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 53mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, strong winds from the NNE by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 5 | N 14 | NW 16 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 | N 11 | NW 5 | NW 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 98 | 43 | 69 | 365 | 2042 | 545 | 148 | 55 | 50 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 7:33AM0.86m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 44 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | -1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 15 | N 14 | NW 13 | — | — | N 12 | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | N 6 | — | NW 18 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 8 | 4 | 7 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 13 | 36 | 43 | — | 13 | 935 | 545 | 148 | 55 | 50 | 21 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | — | NW 16 | N 13 | N 12 | N 12 | N 11 | NW 10 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | NW 18 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 14 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 15 | — | — | — | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 18 | NW 5 | — | N 12 | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 12 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | NW 6 | — | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 98 | — | 69 | 365 | 2042 | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 94 | 94 | 97 | 68 | 68 | 102 | 68 | 68 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 102 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 21 |
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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