Surf Forecasts:
The Cutting surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 6,015 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
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’s coming our way.
The forecast starts with a bit of a lumpy, messy beginning, but there’s some serious energy building for later in the window. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing strange there.
We kick off on Wednesday the 26th with The Cutting. It’s a consistent spot, but Wednesday is not the day for it. The swell is 8ft from the SW with a 13-second period, but that cross-on SW wind at 9 mph has things fairly choppy and the combined energy is 2005 – moderate but messy. The conditions are marginal, so I’d sit this one out.
Thursday the 27th is a step up. Morning at The Cutting sees the swell drop to 4ft but the wind shifts to a light NW cross-off at 9 mph, and the waves clean right up. The combined energy is down to 894, weaker but the quality is there. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 6ft from the SW, but the wind goes cross-shore and it gets a slight chop. Morning is the call.
Friday the 28th is the first standout. The morning has a solid 10ft SW swell with a long 17-second period – that’s groundswell. The combined energy is 5853, moderate-strong. The wind is WNW at 12 mph, cross-off and clean. The wave comment says it’s favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. For a consistent spot like The Cutting, 10ft is expert territory. If you’re a strong surfer, this is the best on offer early on.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th drop back a notch. The swell sits around 7ft to 8ft, but the wind stays cross-on from the WSW, with a light chop. The combined energy is around 2000-2500. Not bad, just average.
Now Monday the 31st – another standout. Morning has a 10ft SW swell with offshore NNE wind at 6 mph. The combined energy is 4118 and the conditions are clean. That’s a proper session for experienced surfers. The afternoon is also clean with a cross-off NNW breeze and 8ft swell, combined energy 4654. That’s a solid day.
Tuesday the 1st of September gets windy. A fresh NNW at 22 mph, cross-off, but the swell is still 8ft with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is 2869, but the wind is strong and the score is low. Not worth it.
From Wednesday the 2nd, things go downhill. Cross-shore winds, rain, and lumpy conditions. The combined energy stays around 2000-2800. This stretch is a write-off.
Then Friday the 4th of September – the biggest swell of the window. The Cutting sees a 18ft SW swell with a very long 17-18 second period. The combined energy is 16538 and 17589 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. But it’s cross-on or onshore winds, and the wave comment says it’s too big for this break. That’s a hard no for paddling – this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Only absolute experts on big-wave gear should even consider it.
Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th stay big at 10ft to 13ft but with cleaner winds. The combined energy is high, but these are expert-level days. Monday the 7th has a morning window with a 8ft SW swell and offshore NNW wind at 9 mph – that’s clean and doable for experienced surfers. Then Tuesday the 8th goes wild again with a 21-second period and strong winds – poor conditions.
Overall, the best windows are Friday the 28th and Monday the 31st for experienced crew. The long-period swells are better for this point break, but the size is serious. Keep an eye on the 7th of September for a more manageable size and clean conditions.
Rusty signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the NNW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 1915 | 1335 | 399 | 969 | 1932 | 5786 | 4762 | 3483 | 2509 | 1837 | 1619 | 2008 | 2522 | 4314 | 4076 | 3099 | 4123 | 2944 | 1941 | 3720 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | on |
High Tide | 12:58PM0.90m | 00:10AM0.43m | 1:09PM0.92m | 00:29AM0.51m | 1:21PM0.92m | 00:52AM0.59m | 1:33PM0.90m | 1:18AM0.68m | 1:44PM0.86m | 1:45AM0.75m | 1:52PM0.81m | 2:13AM0.81m | 1:57PM0.76m | 2:43AM0.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:29PM0.35m | 5:37AM0.21m | 8:04PM0.35m | 6:13AM0.17m | 7:54PM0.33m | 6:45AM0.15m | 7:52PM0.29m | 7:15AM0.16m | 7:55PM0.24m | 7:44AM0.20m | 8:01PM0.18m | 8:12AM0.26m | 8:11PM0.12m | ||||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
2005 | 1915 | 1335 | 399 | 969 | 1932 | 5786 | 4762 | 3483 | 2509 | 1837 | 1619 | 2008 | 2522 | 4314 | 4076 | 3099 | 4123 | 2944 | 1941 | 3720 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 24 | SSW 11 | SW 21 | SW 18 | — | S 10 | — | — | SW 23 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | — | — | SW 20 | SSW 18 | — | — | W 7 | SW 18 |
— | — | 22 | 226 | 416 | 1759 | — | 8 | — | — | 21 | 180 | 339 | — | — | 872 | 1721 | — | — | 99 | 154 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 24 | SW 15 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 22 | 255 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NNW 4 | — |
— | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 16 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 76 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 24 | 72 | 76 | 24 | 24 | 76 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 35 | 466 | 24 | 17 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Far West of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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











