The Cutting Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.41° S 142.52° E

The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 14 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cutting sea temperature is
13.9° C
0.3° 

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 14 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 8,630 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 4.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Fri 14th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 16s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 14th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 16s
Most Powerful10PM (Fri 14th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here.

Well, the next couple of weeks are gonna keep us on our toes at The Cutting, that’s for sure. We’ve got some serious size coming through, and you’ll need to pick your moments. For now, the water’s sitting right about 57°, which is normal for this time of year.

The first real option is this Friday afternoon, the 14th. We’ve got a solid 15ft SW groundswell moving in with a 15-second period. But honestly, it’s just too much juice for this place. The energy is cranking at 8454, which is strong, but it’s going to be a washing machine. Saturday the 15th is still oversized in the morning with 13ft, backing off to 12ft by the afternoon. You’d want to be a local to even think about it.

Sunday the 16th, the swell drops a touch to 10ft in the morning, and we get a bit of East wind, so it’ll be cross-shore and a bit messy. By the afternoon it’s down to 8ft but the SE wind picks up and chops it out.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Monday morning, the 17th. The swell drops right down to a clean 5ft, and it’s a long-period SW groundswell at 17 seconds. With a light ENE cross-offshore breeze, it’s going to be clean as a whistle. This is your window for the experienced crew—that’s the standout of the first week.

Tuesday the 18th has some clean, smaller options around 6ft, but the wind is up, so it’ll be a bit more work. Wednesday the 19th is small and clean in the arvo, but the wind is strong and offshore, making it hard to get into the waves. Then Thursday the 20th looks good—4ft to 6ft, light WNW winds, and clean conditions. That’s another sweet spot for some fun, lined-up waves.

The weekend of the 21st and 22nd sees the swell jump back up and the onshore winds ruin it. It’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess at the beach, better for kites than paddling. We get a bit of a lull Sunday the 23rd, still big at 10ft to 12ft, but the winds are light.

Now, for the big one. Monday the 24th of August, a week from Monday. The models are pointing to a massive SSW groundswell peaking at 18ft. The energy is off the charts at 14874. This is a big, powerful, expert-only swell. The winds are light and offshore in the morning, but this is for the brave or the foolish. It will be too big for this break, you’ve been warned.

After that, the month winds down. The 25th has a solid 10ft but drops quickly. The 26th turns windy and horrible. The 27th is big and onshore and poor again.

Looking into the second week, things get less reliable. The 28th and 29th are smaller, around 5ft to 8ft, but the onshore winds are back. There are some small windows, but nothing that’s screaming at you. Overall, the standout by far is Monday the 17th, with the smaller, clean groundswell. That’s your go-to. Keep an eye on that Monday the 24th if you’re a pro, but for everyone else, it's a watch-and-wonder day.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Tue night, calm by Wed night).

Fri
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
!
!
!
!
0
4
4
4
3
2
3
2
1
3
3
4
4
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4.5
SW
15
4
SW
15
4
SW
15
3.5
SW
15
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
1.6
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
1.7
SW
14
1.8
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.2
SW
15
1.2
WSW
15
1.3
WSW
14
1.2
SW
17
1.7
SW
16
1.8
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
8454
7996
6251
5768
4009
3056
2717
2135
1432
3039
2416
1147
1634
1041
614
576
635
861
1402
1267
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
10
SSW
5
S
15
S
10
SE
15
E
20
SE
10
ENE
15
ENE
15
E
15
NE
30
NE
25
NNE
35
NNE
35
N
20
NNW
5
NW
10
WNW
10
WNW
20
WNW
Wind State
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
2:26PM0.77m
4:06AM0.76m
2:29PM0.75m
Low Tide
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
9:00AM0.40m
9:12PM0.06m
9:18AM0.48m
9:33PM0.07m
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:11
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
 mm
2
4
9
1
Temp °C
12
12
12
12
13
14
13
12
16
17
14
15
16
14
14
14
12
13
14
12
Feels °C
9
9
9
8
10
9
8
9
13
14
10
9
11
8
7
10
12
11
11
7
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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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