The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the next two weeks at The Cutting. We’ve got some serious size coming through, but the timing and the winds are going to be the key.

Right off the bat, the biggest story here is the massive amount of energy. The combined swell energy is off the charts, hitting values like 3936 and even 17672, which is a lot of power. For the first few days, from Friday 21st through Sunday 23rd, the swell is pushing 10ft to 15ft from the WSW to SW. That’s big, heavy stuff. With a period of 14 to 16 seconds, this is a proper groundswell, but it’s just too much for The Cutting. The height is over 8ft, so it’s strictly for absolute experts, and even then, the wind is a cross-off from the NW, which is okay, but the sheer size is the limiting factor.

The first real standout that looks good for someone with experience is Monday the 24th. The swell drops to a more manageable 8ft from the SW, and the period is still a solid 14 seconds. The real winner here is the wind: a clean offshore from the NNW at 12 mph. The combined energy is still a strong 2171, meaning there’s plenty of push, but the conditions are described as "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." That Monday morning is your best bet in this first week. The afternoon gets a little messy.

We then hit a rough patch. From Tuesday 25th through to Thursday 29th, it’s a write-off. Strong onshore winds from the S and SSE, or cross-on winds, blow the surf out. The conditions are poor, with combined energy levels still high but totally wind-chopped. It’s a solid five days of ugly.

Things start to look up again on Sunday the 30th. The swell drops right down to 4ft from the WSW, and the wind swings back to a clean offshore from the NNE. The energy is a weak 532, but it’s clean. The report says "expect very good surf conditions," so for a small, clean wave, this is a nice little session. Then Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September keep that trend going. We’re looking at 3ft to 4ft of SW swell, with offshore or light cross-off winds. The energy is in the low hundreds to low thousands, so it’s not pumping, but it’s clean and rideable.

The best of the second week is shaping up for Tuesday the 1st of September. The swell is a modest 4ft from the SW, but the wind is a glassy light breeze from the WNW. The period is 14 seconds, giving it some shape. The combined energy is 1579, which is moderate, but the conditions are clean. It’s a small, clean, long-period groundswell – perfect for a longboard or a funboard.

Now, a word of caution. The Cutting is a consistent break, but it can get crowded sometimes. Also, the water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Rusty.

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