The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's talk about what's cooking. The only spot in the game is The Cutting, and it's a session of extremes. There's a ton of swell, but you gotta pick your moment.

So, we're looking at Friday the 4th of September. The swell is already pumping a solid 16ft of SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period. The combined wave energy is massive at 11,527 (strong to very strong). The wind is a cross-offshore from the NNW, so the face is clean. But straight up, this is too big. Anything over 5ft is getting into expert territory, and 16ft is a whole different league. It's a pass for most of us, unless you're charging.

The same story rolls through the weekend. Saturday the 5th is still on the wrong side of the ledger with 13ft and 15ft and strong breezes. Sunday the 6th drops a little to 10ft and 12ft, but the wind goes cross-shore, making it a bit messy. Still too big for a comfortable paddle.

Monday the 7th is a write-off. The swell drops to 7ft, but the wind is onshore and choppy, and it's a poor surf day. Tuesday the 8th, though... that's the standout. Tuesday morning is the one. The swell is a solid 7ft from the SW, but it's a very long period groundswell of 18 seconds. The wind is glassy, dead calm from the North at 3 mph. Combined energy is 4,194 (moderate). The forecast says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." That 7ft with a period that long is going to have some serious power and push. For a point break like The Cutting, those long-period groundswells can be magic – the lines will be clean and reel. It's a bit too sizey for a learner, but for the intermediate and up crew, Tuesday morning is the pick of the whole run. That afternoon it gets cross-onshore and a bit ragged, so get it while it's good.

The rest of the week goes back to being too big or onshore. Wednesday the 9th is a total loss with onshore gales and 18ft, Thursday the 10th is similar. Friday the 11th has a clean morning with 10ft and a light cross-offshore, but again, that's a big wave for a spot that's exposed. Saturday the 12th morning looks clean with 8ft and a light cross-offshore, and the energy is 3,178 (moderate). That's a solid option, but it's not the glassy perfection of Tuesday morning.

After that, we hit a bit of a dead zone. Sunday the 13th through Monday the 14th has some marginal surf with strong offshores and smaller swell, making it a tough paddle. There's nothing really worth chasing there. Then from Tuesday the 15th, it's back to poor conditions and onshore winds, and the swell just keeps building again. By Thursday the 17th of September, the forecast is for a massive 31ft of SW groundswell. That's just insane. The energy is off the charts at 56,615 (very strong). That's not a surf day, that's a survival day, even for the experts.

So, to wrap it up: there's a lot of swell, but most of it is too big or blown out. The one true window is Tuesday the 8th of September morning. Get out there for that glassy, long-period groundswell. It won't be for everyone, but for those who are keen, it'll be the best of the run. The rest is for the big-wave crew only, or the kite surfers when it's messy.

Rusty.

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