The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about The Cutting. We’ve got a run of swell coming, but honestly, it’s a tale of two weeks – and most of it is just too much for this place. The Cutting is an exposed spot that needs the right size, and we’re about to get hammered.

We kick off on Tuesday the 1st of September with a bit of light rain and a strong westerly cross-off breeze kicking in at 28 mph. The swell is already 7 ft from the SW with a solid 15-second period, packing a lot of energy (1892). The water temp is 57°, about average for this time of year. It’s marginal here, not worth getting wet for.

Then the floodgates open. Wednesday the 2nd through Monday the 7th of September, we’re looking at swell heights from 12 ft all the way up to 20 ft. This is expert-only stuff, and even then, the conditions are often messy with heavy cross-shore winds and lumpy chop. The wave energy is huge – we’re talking values like 5478, 9582, even 21838 – but it’s just too big and raw for The Cutting to handle. There’s a glimmer Wednesday morning with a NW cross-off at 12 mph and the swell looking clean, but at 12 ft it’s still pushing the limit. By Thursday and Friday, wind shifts to cross and onshore, making it a washing machine. Honestly, this stretch looks more like a kite surfer’s playground than a paddle surfer’s dream.

Now, Monday the 7th is where it starts to get interesting. The swell drops to 6 ft from the SW, still a long 13-second groundswell, but the wind goes light and cross-off from the NE at 6 mph. It’s clean, and for experienced surfers, this is the real deal. Wave energy is moderate at 1113. Monday afternoon holds similar with 5 ft. Tuesday the 8th is the standout. We’ve got a glassy morning with no wind and a 6 ft SW swell – but check the period: 18 seconds. That is very long-period groundswell, meaning proper energy and shape, especially at a point or reef setup like The Cutting. The energy reading is 3094, moderate but powerful. This is easily the best on offer, but note the glassy conditions could make the sets a bit spread out. Tuesday afternoon turns sour fast with a strong cross-onshore.

The rest of the second week is a mixed bag. Wednesday the 9th is a write-off with huge onshore swell. Thursday to Sunday, the 10th to the 13th, is mostly too big (10 ft to 15 ft) with poor winds. By Monday the 14th, we get a bit of relief – a 7 ft SW swell and a clean offshore from the NNW at 9 mph. It’s surfable for the experienced, with energy at 1250. Tuesday the 15th has small 4 ft swell but a short-lived window. After that, conditions slip back into mess.

So, the call is clear: if you’re at The Cutting, wait for Monday the 7th and particularly Tuesday morning the 8th. That glassy, 6 ft SW groundswell with the 18-second period is the best you’re going to get. It’s clean, it’s powerful, and it’s worth the wait.

Rusty.

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