The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, with the outlook for The Cutting.

We've got a big window of surf coming our way, but it's not all for the faint-hearted. Get ready for a solid run of SW groundswell, but the size and consistency will sort the men from the boys.

The combined swell energy is strong, hitting four-digit figures for most of the period, peaking at a massive 9178 (moderate to very strong energy). Water temp is sitting around 58°F, which is pretty average for the time of year, so no major shock to the system there.

The real standout is Saturday the 18th. We’ve got a solid 8ft SW swell (14-second period) fading a touch on Saturday afternoon to 7ft (13 seconds) with glassy conditions. That morning the wind is a light offshore from the NNW, and by afternoon it goes glassy from the W. That's about as clean as it gets. This is the pick of the bunch – a proper day for experienced surfers to get some smooth, lined-up waves, though be mindful the longer period will focus the energy on the take-off zone. Crowds are possible, so get in early.

Sunday the 19th is another good one, with the swell dropping to a more manageable 5ft WSW groundswell (12 seconds) and clean offshore winds from the N and NNW all day. It eases off through the day, but it'll still be fun for a bigger board.

Monday the 20th sees the swell bump back up to 6ft (SW, 15-16 seconds) with clean offshore to cross-off winds. Still very good surf for the experienced crew.

Tuesday the 21st has a bigger pulse of 8ft SW (13-second period) in the morning, dropping slightly in the afternoon, but with clean cross-off winds. It's big, but still manageable for the advanced surfer.

Now, there’s a bit of a gap after that. From Wednesday the 22nd, the wheels come off for a few days. The wind goes onshore and the swell gets massive and messy. On Thursday the 23rd, it's a dangerous 13ft with a cross-off wind, but the sheer size makes it a no-go zone. This big, lumpy, wind-affected swell pattern lasts until about the end of July, with lumpy cross-onshore conditions and rain for much of that time. It’s a write-off for paddle surfing—looks more interesting for kitesurfing given the strong winds and open beach setup.

After that period of poor conditions, things clean up again around Friday the 31st of July. The morning is still on the big side at 10ft, but by Friday afternoon it drops to a cleaner 8ft with a light, clean cross-off breeze from the NNE. That’s the second standout window – still a big swell for the experienced, but manageable and clean.

Heading into August, Saturday the 1st has a solid 8ft swell (15-16 seconds) but with fresh offshore winds from the N and NNE. It’s clean, but the wind is strong. It’s a decent option for the brave, but the raw power and wind make it a grind.

Stay safe out there, and don't be a hero on the big days.

Rusty.

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