The Cutting Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.41° S 142.52° E

The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cutting sea temperature is
14.0° 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 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 18,143 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 6.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sat 8th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 17s
Best Surf 4AM (Mon 10th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 19s
Most Powerful 1AM (Thu 13th Aug)21ft (6.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a long window ahead at The Cutting, and it’s a mixed bag of truly epic potential and some real lumpy, blown-out chaos. The first real call comes on Friday the 7th.

This place is exposed to the south swell, and we’re starting off with a bang. Friday afternoon, The Cutting is seeing a solid 8 ft south-west groundswell. The period is a very long 15 seconds, which means proper power, long lulls, and sets that will grind. The water temp is sitting at 57°, and the anomaly is just 0.5°, so pretty average for this time of year. The wind is glassy, light from the south, making for some of the cleanest conditions you’ll get. The combined energy is reading moderate at 3579. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but that size and long period will have it breaking straight at a beach setup—it’s a one or two standout session for the confident crew. Crowds are possible here.

Then we hit a rough patch. Saturday the 8th sees the swell staying solid at 8 ft, but a fresh NNE wind at 16 mph comes in offshore. By the afternoon it drops a little to 8 ft, but the wind cranks up. Sunday the 9th is a write-off, with stronger winds and lumpy conditions dropping the quality fast. By Monday the 10th, we’ve got 10 ft of south-west groundswell but cross-onshore winds at 19 to 22 mph. That’s a no-go—nasty chop and poor shapes. The combined energy jumps to 5636, but it’s a mess.

We get a brief clean-up on Tuesday the 11th. The swell is still a solid 8 ft with a 14-second period, and the wind goes offshore from the north at 19 mph. Fresh and clean, but still big for intermediates. Wednesday the 12th morning is a red flag: a massive 15 ft south-west swell hits with a combined energy of 21709. Way too big for this break, experts only if they’re brave, but the wind is cross-off. The afternoon nosedives with a near gale. The rest of that week into the 15th and 16th is just too big, with waves over 13 ft and poor winds. This break just can’t handle that size.

After the dust settles, Monday the 17th looks promising again. The swell drops to a manageable 5 ft from the south-west with a 13-second period. The wind goes glassy from the ENE, and the combined energy is moderate at 2035. Beautiful conditions for a session, still better for experienced surfers but a huge step down in danger. Tuesday the 18th is clean with a light offshore, and we get another good run on Wednesday the 19th through Friday the 21st. Swell sizes sit between 5 ft and 7 ft with consistent 15-second periods and offshore winds. The combined energy sits in the moderate 1200 to 2000 range. The best of the second week is Wednesday the 19th morning, with a 7 ft south-west swell and a fresh offshore north wind at 16 mph. That’s clean, powerful, and classy.

By the 21st afternoon and into the 22nd, the swell starts building again to 10 ft with offshore winds. It’s getting big, but the conditions are cleaner than the earlier big swell. Still, that’s experts-only territory.

The standout call for the whole window is Friday the 7th afternoon. Glassy, long-period groundswell, and solid power. That’s the one to circle. A close runner-up is Wednesday the 19th morning for the clean offshore wind on a smaller but still punchy swell.

So, a few days of absolute chaos to sit out, but bookend that with some absolute gems. Eyes on the 7th and the 19th.

– Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the NNE by Sat night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 9°C on Wed afternoon). Mainly near gales.

Fri
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
3
3
2
3
4
0
0
!
3
3
3
!
0
!
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.4
SW
15
2.2
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.3
SW
16
1.9
SW
19
3
SW
18
3
SW
17
3.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.4
SW
19
4.5
SW
17
3.5
SW
16
6.5
SW
14
5.5
SW
15
5
SW
15
4
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2717
3515
3001
2525
1972
1197
823
2694
5430
4766
5535
2903
2261
3901
11467
5891
18143
14513
10953
7421
Wind (km/h)
5
S
15
NNE
25
NNE
25
NNE
30
N
35
NNE
30
NNE
20
NNE
35
SW
30
WSW
25
NW
30
N
35
N
35
NW
35
NW
55
WSW
40
WSW
20
W
25
W
20
NW
Wind State
glassy
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
1:30PM0.79m
1:10PM0.87m
1:10PM0.93m
1:19PM0.97m
1:29PM0.97m
1:37PM0.94m
00:01AM0.50m
Low Tide
10:01PM0.08m
10:25PM0.07m
11:00PM0.09m
00:07AM0.15m
4:13AM0.16m
5:32AM0.12m
8:37PM0.44m
cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
 mm
1
2
6
4
2
14
2
4
2
3
1
Temp °C
14
12
13
11
13
12
12
11
13
12
11
13
13
14
11
10
11
13
13
12
Feels °C
13
9
7
5
6
5
6
8
6
5
5
5
6
6
2
-2
2
7
7
8
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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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