The Cutting Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.41° S 142.52° E

The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 02 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cutting sea temperature is
14.1° C
0.2° 

The Cutting surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Cutting surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, WSW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 11,974 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period with WSW 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 13s 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 4.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Mon 3rd Aug)13ft (4.0m) 13s
Best Surf 7PM (Mon 3rd Aug)13ft (4.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 10th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cutting over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got for The Cutting.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a rough patch. The surf is on offer, but it’s not the kind you paddle out for unless you’re chasing a beating. Monday the 3rd kicks off with a SW groundswell at 8ft but the wind is howling cross at 19 mph making it lumpy. The combined swell energy is high at (4088), but the quality is just not there. Monday afternoon actually gets worse as the swell jumps to 12ft and the wind picks up even more. This size is already getting too big for beginners, and with that messy cross-chop, it’s a write-off. Tuesday the 4th is more of the same – big, windy, and ugly.

Wednesday the 5th is a little more manageable with the swell dropping to 6ft, but the cross-wind at 9 mph keeps it from being clean. Still marginal.

Now, here’s where things start to turn. Thursday afternoon on the 6th is the first real standout. The swell drops to a clean 6ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period. The wind goes light and cross-off at 9 mph, giving us clean conditions. The combined swell energy is moderate at (1597), but that long period will make for some proper lines – especially suited to a setup like The Cutting. This is the sweet spot for intermediates. Crowds are sometimes here, so you might have a few out but nothing nuts.

Friday the 7th is an absolute cracker. Morning and afternoon both with 8ft SW groundswell, that same long 15-16 second period, and light cross-off winds. Clean, powerful, and punchy. This is for experienced surfers though – it’s solid overhead. The best on offer in the near term. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

Saturday the 8th looks decent with clean 8ft swell and offshore wind at 19 mph, but that fresh breeze will keep the surface a little textured. Still, a good option.

Sunday the 9th starts okay but the afternoon gets trashed by a 13ft onshore mess.

Then we hit a major lull in quality from Monday the 10th through to the end of the period. The swell is huge – we’re talking 13ft to 20ft with combined energy readings well into four and five digits (over 10000). While the wind is often favorable, the size is just too big for The Cutting. This is expert-only territory, and even then, only for those with big-wave experience. From the 13th, the wind turns onshore and it’s all chop and closeouts. The 15th of August sees the biggest pulse at 20ft SW with a 19-second period, but it’s a washing machine. Honestly, from the 10th to the 18th, unless you’re a charger, I’d be looking at other activities.

The gap of really good, paddleable surf is short – just Thursday afternoon through Friday. After that, it’s a long stretch of too big and too rough until maybe the very last day, Tuesday the 18th, where the swell finally drops back to a more manageable 8ft and it’s clean, but that’s still over a week away and far out.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Wed afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Wed night, fresh winds from the NNE by Sat morning).

Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
4
2
4
4
5
5
5
4
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SW
15
2.4
SW
15
3.5
WSW
14
4
SW
12
3.5
SW
12
3
SW
11
2.3
SW
11
1.9
SW
14
1.7
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.1
SW
16
1.7
SW
16
1.7
SW
15
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
2.4
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2449
2662
4767
4546
3319
2038
1223
1500
1044
623
636
1438
1254
3589
2868
3474
3039
2662
2360
Wind (km/h)
30
NNW
30
W
35
W
35
SW
35
WSW
30
SW
20
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
15
NW
15
NW
15
NNW
15
NW
15
NNW
10
NNW
20
N
30
NNE
30
N
35
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
2:26AM0.65m
2:47PM0.85m
3:01AM0.69m
2:54PM0.79m
3:38AM0.71m
2:51PM0.74m
4:19AM0.71m
2:36PM0.71m
5:13AM0.70m
2:06PM0.73m
1:30PM0.79m
Low Tide
8:16AM0.20m
9:11PM0.24m
8:44AM0.28m
9:21PM0.20m
9:10AM0.38m
9:31PM0.15m
9:28AM0.49m
9:44PM0.11m
9:26AM0.60m
10:01PM0.08m
10:25PM0.07m
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
 mm
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
5
Temp °C
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
12
11
9
13
12
14
15
13
12
13
11
Feels °C
4
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
8
5
10
9
11
12
8
5
6
2
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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