The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at The Cutting.

First up, the water temp is sittin’ around 58°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – nothin’ wild there.

Now, straight off the bat, I gotta tell ya – there’s a big, lumpy mess on the cards for the next few days. We’ve got a serious SW swell pourin’ in, pushin’ 15 ft to 16 ft, with a heavy combined wave energy (7478 to 16605). That’s a lot of water movin’. Problem is, the wind is howlin’ from the WSW at 19 to 22 mph, blowin’ straight across or onshore, so the surface is gonna be a total write-off. Thursday arvo (23rd July) through Saturday are a no-go – too big and too chopped up. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now.

Come Sunday the 26th of July, things start to settle. The swell drops to a much more manageable 8 ft from the SW, and the wind swings around to a light cross-offshore (NW 12 mph). It’s clean for the first time. But the wave energy is down to around 1700, and the period is a middling 11 seconds. The forecast calls it marginal, and I’d agree – it’s a small step in the right direction, but nothin’ to write home about. Monday and Tuesday keep that clean cross-off wind, but the swell hovers around 8-8 ft.

Now, the standout window comes in the second week. Let’s look at Sunday the 2nd of August. We’ve got a solid 10 ft SW groundswell, with a long 16-second period. That’s the kind of energy that gets your blood pumpin’. The wind is light from the NNW, 6 mph, and cross-offshore. It’ll be glassy. The combined energy is a healthy 4076. This is a real opportunity, but heads up – The Cutting is an exposed spot, and with a period that long, those sets could line up a bit too straight for a beach break. Still, if the tide plays ball, this is easily the best on offer. The Monday the 3rd also looks promising with another 12 ft SW swell and clean offshore winds (WNW 12 mph), but again, it’s pushing big for a spot like this.

There’s a real blinder of a pulse on Thursday the 6th of August – 13 ft SW swell with an 18-second period, and a combined energy of 13059. That’s some serious power. The wind is light cross-on from the ESE, so it’ll be clean with just a few ripples. But honestly, at this size and with that kind of period, it’s for experts only. This break will be a freight train.

For the everyday surfer, your best bet is Sunday the 2nd of August morning – 10 ft of clean, long-period SW swell with light offshore winds. It’s the pick of the run, but keep in mind, this is a consistent spot and crowds can pop up here sometimes, especially when it’s good. The long period groundswell will work best if you’ve got a point or a reef in mind; at a beach break it might be a bit straight.

All in all, there’s proper swell on the way, but the first week is a write-off. The second week holds the real promise. Keep an eye on that big energy pulse, but be ready for a serious session.

Rusty.

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