Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, N swell with 70 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for the Nelson area, specifically Inner Cut.
To be honest, it’s a tough stretch. There’s really nothing to get excited about for the entire 16-day period. Every single session comes back as poor surf conditions. We’re looking at a long, quiet run with no genuine standouts.
The first possible surf comes in on Saturday afternoon, 12th September, but it’s just 1ft of weak, short-period NNW swell with a combined wave energy of only (1). Winds are light offshore from the NW, which would usually get me talking, but there’s simply not enough push.
Sunday the 13th offers even less wave height – 0.7ft – with a very long 17-second period from the NNW, but the combined energy is still only (32). That period is long enough to suggest better shaped waves, but you’d be waiting forever for a set. Water temp is about average for this time of year at 54°.
We see a few morning windows with glassy conditions – Monday 14th September and again on Thursday 24th and Saturday 26th September – but each time the swell is either flat or barely a ripple. The energy readings are near zero.
The only time the combined energy gets into moderate territory is right at the very end of the outlook, on Sunday 27th September in the afternoon. The swell jumps to 4ft from the NW with a period of just 6 seconds, and combined energy (115). But the wind is a moderate cross-onshore breeze from the north at 16 mph, which will chop it up badly. That’s kitesurfing weather, not paddle surfing.
Inner Cut is an inconsistent point break, so this kind of dry spell isn’t completely out of the ordinary around here. No standouts to recommend, not one. Hang in there, things can turn around.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NW 16 | N 5 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | SW 3 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 1 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 60 | 70 | 31 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:40PM4.34m | 11:02AM4.24m | 11:15PM4.27m | 11:36AM4.19m | 11:49PM4.14m | 12:10PM4.08m | 00:23AM3.94m | 12:43PM3.91m | 00:59AM3.69m | 1:16PM3.72m | 1:39AM3.41m | 1:53PM3.48m | 2:28AM3.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:27PM0.40m | 4:43AM0.31m | 4:59PM0.42m | 5:17AM0.41m | 5:29PM0.53m | 5:50AM0.57m | 5:58PM0.71m | 6:25AM0.78m | 6:30PM0.95m | 7:01AM1.01m | 7:05PM1.21m | 7:40AM1.25m | 7:50PM1.48m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 9 |
Feels °C | 9 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 16 | NW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 17 | ENE 3 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | — | N 5 | — | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | 67 | 44 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 7 | — | 15 | — | 31 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 16 | NW 5 | N 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 11 | — | NW 16 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NW 16 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 10 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 11 | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | E 6 | — | — | N 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 18 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 2 | WSW 2 | SW 3 | NE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | SW 2 | — | NNW 5 | NW 5 | N 5 | — | E 3 | — | NNW 3 | SW 3 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 39 | 60 | 70 | — | 6 | — | 1 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 102 | 68 | 68 | 113 | 28 | 28 | 118 | 68 | 68 | 123 | 102 | 102 | 192 | 0 | 102 | 102 | 2 | 97 | 127 | 68 |
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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