The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at The Cutting.

The forecast here is a real rollercoaster. We’ve got heaps of swell energy on the way, but the first few days are a write-off thanks to howling winds. The real standout is a run of clean conditions and serious size for experienced surfers from the end of July into early August, but you’ll want to be picky about your windows.

The first proper chance to grab a board lands Saturday morning, July 25th, but honestly, it’s a no-go. The wind is a nasty 30 km/h from the WSW, creating a fresh cross-onshore and lumpy mess. The swell is a thumping 13 ft at 13 seconds from the SW, and the combined energy is extreme at 4823. The swell size alone makes this one for experts only, and with that wind, nobody’s having fun.

Saturday afternoon settles a touch, with an 12 ft SW swell and the wind dropping to a cross-shore 25 km/h from the W. The energy is still massive at 3525, and while the message says wind and tide are favourable, the swell is just too big for this break. Not for the faint-hearted.

Sunday, July 26th is a whole different story. The morning brings lovely clean conditions with a gentle cross-off breeze from the WNW at 15 km/h. The swell has dropped to a much friendlier 8 ft from the SW at 11 seconds, with moderate energy (1474). Good, solid waves, clean face. Sunday afternoon is still rideable but gets a cross-shore breeze; a decent backup.

Then we get a cracker. Monday morning, July 27th is where it’s at. There’s a clean, moderate offshore wind from the NNW at 20 km/h. The swell is a punchy 7 ft from the SW at 11 seconds, with 1124 energy. This is going to produce clean, well-shaped waves for experienced surfers.

After that, the weather turns ugly again with strong winds and rain through Tuesday, before another huge pulse arrives. Wednesday, July 29th has a monster 16 ft SW swell with 15-second periods, and the energy reading is off the charts at 10008. But with a moderate cross-onshore wind, it’s just too big and messy again.

The next absolute standout in this run is Thursday morning, July 30th. A gentle cross-off breeze from the WNW at 15 km/h, glassy clean conditions, and a solid 8 ft swell from the SW at 13 seconds. The energy is a strong 2134. This is a top-quality window for a proper session.

Friday, July 31st morning stays clean with a cross-off breeze, but the swell nudges up. Then we go into a block of very large, very long-period groundswell from the SW for the first days of August. The swell is consistently over 10 ft, with periods hitting 17 and 18 seconds, and combined energy soaring into the 4000s and 8000s. The wind is often clean or even glassy (Monday, August 3rd afternoon has glassy conditions with an 12 ft SW swell), but the sheer size and power of these long-period swells will make The Cutting a heavy, heaving beast. This is strictly for experts on a big-wave gun, and even then, the set waves might be too much.

For the rest of the first week of August, the wind stays offshore or clean, but the swell stays big. Thursday, August 6th morning has a gentle offshore wind and a 7 ft, 16-second SW swell – that’s a beautiful combo for the experienced surfer, but with the groundswell, it’s going to be powerful and walled up.

In summary, the best bets in this 16-day run are Monday morning, July 27th, and Thursday morning, July 30th – both offering clean conditions and solid, surfable swell. The big, long-period groundswell at the start of August offers incredible potential but only for the hardcore crew. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

Rusty.

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