The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

The forecast starts with a bit of a lumpy, messy beginning, but there’s some serious energy building for later in the window. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing strange there.

We kick off on Wednesday the 26th with The Cutting. It’s a consistent spot, but Wednesday is not the day for it. The swell is 8ft from the SW with a 13-second period, but that cross-on SW wind at 9 mph has things fairly choppy and the combined energy is 2005 – moderate but messy. The conditions are marginal, so I’d sit this one out.

Thursday the 27th is a step up. Morning at The Cutting sees the swell drop to 4ft but the wind shifts to a light NW cross-off at 9 mph, and the waves clean right up. The combined energy is down to 894, weaker but the quality is there. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 6ft from the SW, but the wind goes cross-shore and it gets a slight chop. Morning is the call.

Friday the 28th is the first standout. The morning has a solid 10ft SW swell with a long 17-second period – that’s groundswell. The combined energy is 5853, moderate-strong. The wind is WNW at 12 mph, cross-off and clean. The wave comment says it’s favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. For a consistent spot like The Cutting, 10ft is expert territory. If you’re a strong surfer, this is the best on offer early on.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th drop back a notch. The swell sits around 7ft to 8ft, but the wind stays cross-on from the WSW, with a light chop. The combined energy is around 2000-2500. Not bad, just average.

Now Monday the 31st – another standout. Morning has a 10ft SW swell with offshore NNE wind at 6 mph. The combined energy is 4118 and the conditions are clean. That’s a proper session for experienced surfers. The afternoon is also clean with a cross-off NNW breeze and 8ft swell, combined energy 4654. That’s a solid day.

Tuesday the 1st of September gets windy. A fresh NNW at 22 mph, cross-off, but the swell is still 8ft with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is 2869, but the wind is strong and the score is low. Not worth it.

From Wednesday the 2nd, things go downhill. Cross-shore winds, rain, and lumpy conditions. The combined energy stays around 2000-2800. This stretch is a write-off.

Then Friday the 4th of September – the biggest swell of the window. The Cutting sees a 18ft SW swell with a very long 17-18 second period. The combined energy is 16538 and 17589 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. But it’s cross-on or onshore winds, and the wave comment says it’s too big for this break. That’s a hard no for paddling – this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Only absolute experts on big-wave gear should even consider it.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th stay big at 10ft to 13ft but with cleaner winds. The combined energy is high, but these are expert-level days. Monday the 7th has a morning window with a 8ft SW swell and offshore NNW wind at 9 mph – that’s clean and doable for experienced surfers. Then Tuesday the 8th goes wild again with a 21-second period and strong winds – poor conditions.

Overall, the best windows are Friday the 28th and Monday the 31st for experienced crew. The long-period swells are better for this point break, but the size is serious. Keep an eye on the 7th of September for a more manageable size and clean conditions.

Rusty signing off.

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