The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what’s headed our way for The Cutting.

Right now, we’re looking at a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The wave energy is moderate to strong, but a lot of that power comes with problems. The water temperature is sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual on that front.

Sunday the 26th is a write-off. We’ve got a 8-foot SW swell coming in, but the wind is cross and conditions are choppy. The energy is moderate at 1474, but it’s just not clean. Marginal at best.

Monday the 27th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning brings a 7-foot SW swell with a clean offshore wind from the NNW. The period is a nice 11 seconds, and the energy is solid at 1371. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon cleans up even more with a 8-foot SW swell and a longer 13-second period, pushing the energy up to 1638. Winds stay offshore. This is the first real standout of the forecast. Get on it.

Tuesday the 28th sees a big jump in swell direction and power. The morning is a 7-foot SSW swell with a very long 16-second period, and the energy is strong at 4018. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the wind speed is high at 25 mph. It’s a strong breeze, and by the afternoon, the wind shifts cross and picks up even more, making it messy. The afternoon is a definite pass.

Wednesday the 29th is a washout. The swell is huge – 16 feet in the morning – but the wind is cross-onshore and lumpy. The energy is massive (12736), but it’s not for paddling. This is a kite surfing setup, not a surf setup.

Thursday the 30th drops back down, but the wind is still cross or cross-onshore. It’s marginal with an 8-foot SW swell and an energy of 2736. Not great, not terrible, just average.

Now, Friday the 31st is another standout. The morning brings a 7-foot SW swell with a light offshore wind from the NNW. The period is 12 seconds, and the energy is 1416. The conditions are clean. This is a great session for anyone who can handle it.

Saturday the 1st of August is the same story. A clear morning with a 5-foot SW swell and a gentle offshore wind. The energy is 1482. Clean lines, good shape. Get out there early.

Sunday the 2nd of August, and we’re into bigger stuff again. A 10-foot SW swell with a very long 17-second period. The wind is offshore, and the energy is strong at 4902. But here’s the thing – that swell is predicted to be too big for The Cutting. This is for experts only, and the long period will make it break straight at this beach setup. It’s powerful, but tricky.

Monday the 3rd of August drops back to a 8-foot SW swell with a 15-second period and a cross-offshore wind. The energy is 3294. It’s clean, but again, the size and period make it a challenge.

From Tuesday the 4th of August all the way through to Saturday the 9th of August, it’s a repeating pattern. We’re getting consistent SW and SSW swells, ranging from 8 feet to 15 feet, with very long periods (14 to 19 seconds). The wind is often offshore or cross-offshore, and the energy is strong to very strong (often over 4000, sometimes over 10000). However, the guidance keeps saying these swells are predicted to be too big for The Cutting. So while the conditions look clean, the size and power are a major caveat. The only real exception is the morning of Thursday the 6th, which shows an 8-foot SSW swell with a cross-offshore wind and moderate energy (3075). That one could be worth a look if you’re brave.

Sunday the 9th of August settles down a bit. A 8-foot SW swell with a fresh offshore wind. The energy is 2428. It’s a solid, clean option, but the wind is strong.

Monday the 10th of August is a mess. A 10-foot SW swell with a cross-offshore wind in the morning, but the wind picks up to a fresh breeze, and by the afternoon it’s cross-onshore and lumpy with an 12-foot swell. That’s a hard pass.

So, to sum it up: the true standouts are Monday the 27th of July and Friday the 31st of July. Those are your best bets for clean, powerful waves without being oversized. The morning of Saturday the 1st of August is also a beautiful, clean option for a smaller swell. Beyond that, it’s either too big, too windy, or both. The second week has some promising looking swells, but the size is a real concern for this break.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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