
Surf Forecasts:
The Cutting surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 23ft (7.0m), 19s period, SSW swell with 33,580 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 15s 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.5m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 7.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 23ft (7.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cutting over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Fri night, strong winds from the WNW by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun night, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
13486 | 11527 | 10494 | 8064 | 6251 | 9551 | 5907 | 4662 | 3105 | 1794 | 1187 | 1173 | 1476 | 2600 | 5080 | 4272 | 10586 | 23197 | 32814 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:50AM0.82m | 1:41PM0.73m | 4:32AM0.75m | 1:26PM0.77m | 5:49AM0.67m | 1:10PM0.82m | 1:00PM0.86m | 12:55PM0.88m | 12:53PM0.88m | 11:50PM0.40m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:05AM0.54m | 8:56PM0.01m | 8:53AM0.63m | 9:17PM0.02m | 7:33AM0.67m | 9:41PM0.06m | 10:05PM0.15m | 10:14PM0.26m | 8:56PM0.37m | ||||||||||
— | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 |
13486 | 11527 | 10494 | 8064 | 6251 | — | — | 4662 | 3105 | 1794 | 1187 | 1173 | 1476 | 1594 | 5080 | 4272 | 10586 | 23197 | 32814 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 23 | SW 22 | SSW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | — | SW 26 | SSW 22 | SW 16 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 118 | 277 | 1351 | 2600 | — | 171 | 3054 | 2231 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 305 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 4 | W 8 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 9 | 1033 | 9551 | 5907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 80 | 80 | 121 | 52 | 452 | 627 | 449 | 24 | 76 | 24 | 108 | 566 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 76 | 477 | 449 | 449 |
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










