Surf Forecasts:
Inner Cut surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, NNW swell with 117 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period. 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 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inner Cut over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me tell you about the next couple of weeks at The Cut.
First up, we’ve got a real quiet start. The Cut (Nelson Harbour) is a point break that’s pretty inconsistent at the best of times, and for the first week or so, it’s basically flat. You’ll be looking at a long stretch of days with nothing doing – just small wind ripples and glassy water with no push. That’s the reality from Monday the 17th right through to the end of next week. Don’t even bother paddling out.
The first real glimmer of something happens on Saturday the 29th of August. Saturday morning is where it’s at. We’re expecting a solid 4ft swell from the north, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a moderate groundswell with some good energy behind it (combined energy of 318). The real kicker is the wind – glassy, dead calm, out of the SSW. That’s going to give you clean, smooth faces. The tide and the point will do the rest. This is the standout session of the entire forecast. The only downside is the swell direction is from the north, and this spot really prefers a north-west swell to get the best shape, but with that glass and the height, it’s still the best on offer.
After that, Sunday the 30th morning is glassy again but the swell drops right off to 2ft, so don’t expect much. The rest of the run into September is more of the same – small, weak, and ultimately not worth your time.
So, to put it plain: the first week and a half is a write-off. Your one chance to get wet and have a decent time is the morning of Saturday the 29th of August. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but that’s the one.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue morning, min 4°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 5°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | NW 14 | NW 14 | SW 2 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 14 | N 16 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 39 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 117 | 103 | 57 | 43 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 00:58AM4.02m | 1:19PM3.88m | 1:37AM3.78m | 1:55PM3.67m | 2:18AM3.51m | 2:35PM3.45m | 3:08AM3.25m | 3:23PM3.24m | 4:11AM3.03m | 4:34PM3.07m | 5:30AM2.94m | 6:21PM3.05m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:00AM0.80m | 7:07PM0.95m | 7:39AM1.04m | 7:44PM1.24m | 8:21AM1.28m | 8:33PM1.52m | 9:11AM1.50m | 9:52PM1.75m | 10:12AM1.67m | 11:30PM1.80m | 11:30AM1.74m | 00:46AM1.71m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 4 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
Feels °C | 0 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 15 | NW 14 | NW 14 | NW 15 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | — | — | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 16 | — | — | 103 | 57 | 43 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 14 | N 16 | N 16 | N 15 | NNW 6 | — | — | N 17 | N 18 | NW 16 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 5 | 6 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 5 | NW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | — | NW 5 | WSW 2 | — | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | — | NW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 39 | 1 | — | 45 | 117 | 318 | — | 140 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 68 | 94 | 97 | 68 | 113 | 68 | 68 | 102 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 101 | 2 | 113 | 118 | 2 |
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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