The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. Alright mate, look, I’ll lay it out plain – only one break showed up for the whole 16-day window, The Cutting, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. A lot of swell coming through, but you gotta be smart about when you paddle out. Water temp’s around 57°, pretty normal for this time of year, nothing unusual.

First chance is Thursday morning, August 20th. Cloudy, wind from the NNW at 12 mph blowing cross-off, so it’s clean. Swell is 6ft from the WSW with a 13-second period – that’s a nice groundswell. Combined energy is 2124, moderate to strong. The comment says marginal surf or questionable tide, so you’ll want to time it right. Not a standout, but worth a look.

Friday the 21st gets real heavy. Morning and afternoon both have 10ft swell from the WSW with periods of 15 seconds. Energy is 3842 in the AM and 7543 in the PM – that’s big. Clean cross-off winds, but the swell is too big for The Cutting. Expert-only, and that long-period groundswell can make a beach break like this straight and tricky.

Saturday the 22nd is even bigger – 13ft swells in the morning, period 15 seconds, energy a massive 15271. Afternoon is similar at 13ft from the SW, energy 6777. Winds are cross-shore with chop. This is kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing unless you’re insane. Sunday the 23rd morning has 10ft surf – still too big, but clean. Afternoon drops to 8ft with light wind, but the tide is marginal.

Monday to Tuesday the 24th-25th, swell sits between 8ft and 12ft but the winds go cross-on or choppy – no good. Wednesday the 26th morning has a window: 8ft from the SW, 13-second period (energy 2235), with a light NNW breeze at 6 mph blowing cross-off. Clean. Rated fair for experienced surfers.

Thursday the 27th is your best bet. Morning: 7ft SW swell, 12-second period (energy 1776), and a light N offshore wind at 9 mph. Glassy and clean. The comment says excellent for experienced surfers. Afternoon holds up too – 8ft, 13-second period, light NE cross-off (energy 2914). This is the standout of the whole run: clean, manageable size, good energy.

Friday the 28th jumps back to 10ft, too big. Saturday the 29th morning drops to 6ft with offshore N wind at 12 mph (energy 1515) – clean and surfable for experienced guys. Afternoon goes to 6ft but marginal.

From August 30th through September 4th, swell bounces from 4ft to 13ft, but most sessions are either too big, windy, or off-tide. September 2nd afternoon is a bright spot – 8ft from the WSW, 14-second period, light WNW cross-off (energy 5519) – gets the highest rating of the late window. September 3rd and 4th are all oversized again (10ft to 13ft) with strong offshore winds – only for the hardcore.

So the call: experienced surfers, target Thursday the 27th of August morning for the best clean, manageable surf. Saturday the 29th morning is a second, smaller option. Everything else is either expert territory or a no-go. Be patient and mind the tide.

Rusty.

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