The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks at The Cutting.

Right now, the ocean’s got some serious grunt, but it’s a mixed bag. We’re kicking off with a solid groundswell that’s got plenty of energy, but it’s a bit of a beast – too big for most, and the wind’s not always playing nice. The first real standout is this Monday morning, the 20th of July. We’ve got a 6 ft swell rolling in from the WSW with a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 1487 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a clean offshore from the NNW at 12 mph, so it’s going to be glassy. These are excellent conditions for experienced surfers, because it’s a bit too much for beginners at over 5 ft. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

Tuesday morning, the 21st, is another cracker. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, and the energy is up to 2036 (strong wave energy). Still a moderate offshore breeze from the NNW, keeping it clean. This is big, powerful stuff – definitely for the experienced crew only, as it’s over 8 ft. The Cutting is a consistent spot, and crowds can pop up sometimes, but with conditions like this, it’ll be worth jostling for a wave.

After that, things get gnarly. From Wednesday afternoon onward, the swell gets enormous, pushing up to 18 ft and beyond, with cross-onshore and onshore winds that are going to make it a washing machine. The energy numbers go through the roof – over 14000 on Friday morning (very strong wave energy) – but it’s just too big and messy. The forecast even says it’s too big for this break. This stretch is really only for the kamikaze crew, or honestly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with those strong winds. This messy period runs from about Wednesday the 22nd right through to the end of the month.

We’ve got a gap of several days there with no real recommendations for a good paddle session. Then, things finally settle down. Looking at Monday the 3rd of August, we’re back in the game. The morning offers a 8 ft swell from the SW, period 12 seconds, and a light offshore breeze from the north at 6 mph. The energy is 2068 (strong wave energy), and it’s clean. This is another excellent one for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds similar with a 8 ft swell. Tuesday the 4th of August is also a beauty to end the run – 7 ft from the SW, 12-second period, light offshore from the NNE, and clean conditions. This is a bit more manageable and still good quality.

So, the real highlights are the mornings of the 20th, 21st of July, and then the 3rd and 4th of August. The long-range call for the start of August is promising, but it’s a bit further out, so keep an eye on the charts. For now, get on it early next week if you’ve got the skills.

Rusty

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