Surf Forecasts:
The Cutting surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 11,713 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cutting this week:
The surf forecast for The Cutting over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cutting over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let me put it plain – The Cutting is getting hammered by a big, long-period SW groundswell that’s gonna be too much for nearly everyone through the first week. This is expert-only water. The water temp is about what you’d expect for the season, nothing out of the ordinary.
The first real window opens up on Monday, August 17th, early in the morning. You’ve got a 8 ft SW swell running with a 16-second period – proper groundswell power (2999 combined energy). The wind is a light cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is for experienced surfers only. The break itself is exposed and consistent, but with that long period, it’ll be holding shape. You might have company, so paddle out early.
Tuesday the 18th settles a little. Morning delivers 6 ft SW, 14-second period, with a moderate cross-off breeze keeping things clean (2113 combined energy). Still solid, but a little more doable. Afternoon clears up with the same wind, though it’s still for the skilled.
Thursday the 20th brings a fresh offshore out of the N/NW at 19 mph, pushing a 6 ft SW swell with a 14-second period (2295 combined energy). You’ll need your wits about you, but those clean, offshore walls will be there.
Friday the 21st morning is a little gem. A 7 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, clean with a gentle cross-off breeze (1812 combined energy). This is your best bet for solid, clean waves that aren’t totally out of hand.
Then Saturday the 22nd morning, it jumps up to 10 ft SW, 13-second period, with a moderate cross-off – too big for all but the brave. The afternoon gets rough with 25 mph cross-winds and rain showers.
After that, there’s a big dry spell for quality. Monday the 24th afternoon sees a monster – 18 ft WSW swell, 15-second period, with a strong cross-off breeze? That’s a beast, and it stays massive through Wednesday the 26th. Not for paddling.
The true standout of the whole forecast is Thursday, August 27th. Early morning at The Cutting. A 8 ft SW swell with a 17-second period, from a clean direction, with barely a breath of wind (3 mph cross-off). The combined energy is strong at 3802. This is as good as it gets for experienced surfers in this run: long-period groundswell, near-glass, with that deep SW energy wrapping in perfectly. That’s the one to chase.
If you’re a beginner, stay on the beach until at least the 27th. For the rest of us, Monday the 17th and Thursday the 27th are the real deals. That Thursday is the best on offer – don’t sleep on it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11009 | 11356 | 10010 | 11619 | 9209 | 8152 | 7600 | 6168 | 5210 | 3810 | 2886 | 2686 | 2166 | 2865 | 3589 | 2708 | 1325 | 1654 | 1028 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:37PM0.94m | 00:01AM0.50m | 1:44PM0.91m | 00:52AM0.62m | 1:51PM0.87m | 1:35AM0.71m | 2:00PM0.84m | 2:15AM0.77m | 2:09PM0.81m | 2:53AM0.80m | 2:19PM0.79m | 3:29AM0.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:32AM0.12m | 8:37PM0.44m | 6:22AM0.11m | 8:06PM0.39m | 7:02AM0.13m | 8:03PM0.30m | 7:37AM0.18m | 8:13PM0.20m | 8:09AM0.24m | 8:30PM0.13m | 8:36AM0.32m | 8:51PM0.08m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 11009 | 11356 | 10010 | 11619 | 9209 | 8152 | 7600 | 6168 | 5210 | 3810 | 2886 | 2686 | 2166 | 2865 | 3589 | 2708 | 1325 | 1654 | 1028 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 26 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 18 | WSW 13 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 112 | 57 | 49 | 781 | 437 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 24 | SW 22 | — | SE 5 | ESE 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 127 | — | 7 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | ESE 5 | E 5 | NNE 4 | N 3 | NNE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | 17 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 108 | 76 | 108 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 17 | 94 | 186 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Far West of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Cutting Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Cutting provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Cutting can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Cutting 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 (The Cutting) 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 The Cutting 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 Far West of Victoria? If you are looking for accommodation near The Cutting, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Far West of Victoria, consider staying in Warrnambool which is 4 km (2 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Portland which is 80 km (50 miles) away
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