The Cutting Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.41° S 142.52° E

The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cutting sea temperature is
14.0° C
0.4° 

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 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with 8,308 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 2.4m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 4.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 21st Aug)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 21st Aug)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sat 22nd Aug)15ft (4.5m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

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.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Sat night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
0
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
4
5
3
3
3
0
!
!
4
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
3
WSW
16
3
WSW
15
3
WSW
14
4
WSW
16
4
SW
15
4
SW
14
4
SW
14
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
2.5
SW
15
2.4
SW
14
2.3
SW
13
2.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
3.5
SW
16
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1144
555
3857
3601
3495
7332
7842
6472
5854
3674
2319
3026
2285
1862
2154
2782
4984
3783
2235
1703
1778
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
40
W
25
NW
20
NW
25
WNW
25
NW
25
W
20
WSW
15
WNW
15
NW
10
W
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
W
20
NW
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
SSW
10
NNW
10
SW
15
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
2:29PM0.75m
4:46AM0.71m
2:22PM0.74m
5:45AM0.64m
1:57PM0.74m
1:16PM0.77m
12:51PM0.82m
12:50PM0.87m
00:11AM0.35m
12:58PM0.90m
00:10AM0.43m
Low Tide
9:33PM0.07m
9:23AM0.55m
9:53PM0.11m
8:47AM0.61m
10:11PM0.16m
10:26PM0.21m
10:23PM0.27m
9:23PM0.33m
4:49AM0.27m
8:29PM0.35m
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:09
7:07
7:05
7:03
7:03
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
9
2
4
Temp °C
13
10
11
13
14
12
13
13
12
12
14
12
16
15
12
12
12
11
10
11
10
Feels °C
9
2
6
8
9
7
7
8
8
8
11
9
12
12
9
6
7
6
7
8
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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