The Cutting Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.41° S 142.52° E

The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 09 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cutting sea temperature is
14.0° C
0.4° 

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 9 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, SW swell with onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 8,799 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s. 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Sun 9th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 16s
Best Surf 4AM (Mon 10th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 19s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 12th Aug)13ft (4.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, crew, let’s talk about The Cutting.

The next 16 days are shaping up to be a real test. There's a powerful southwest groundswell train coming through, but for the most part, it's going to be way too much juice for this spot. The water temp is 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year.

The action starts on Sunday, August 9th. We've got a clean 6ft SW swell with a 13-second period and a solid energy reading (1498). The morning has a cross-off breeze, so it'll be a bit textured but workable. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a full offshore and the swell drops a touch to 4ft, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That's a great window for some sneaky, lined-up waves.

Then the hammer drops. From Monday the 10th through to the following Saturday the 16th, this place is going to be a washing machine. We're looking at waves from 10ft all the way up to 15ft, with energy readings climbing from 5976 to a monstrous 21551. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making it lumpy and messy. Tuesday morning on August 11th is the only tease – a 10ft SW swell with a moderate offshore wind and a clean look (3166 energy), but it's just too big for this break. Same story on Wednesday the 12th, with a 13ft swell and a clean offshore wind in the morning, but again, it's way over the top. This is size for the experts only, and even then, conditions look rough. If you see a 15ft swell and onshore winds, that's not surfing, that's just survival.

We finally get some relief on Sunday the 17th. The swell has dropped to a much more manageable 8ft with a good 15-second period. Monday morning on August 17th sees clear skies, a light cross-off breeze, and clean conditions. It's still a solid size, but it's a far cry from the chaos of the previous week. That's the standout window for the experienced crew. You'll want to be out there early.

The week of the 18th to the 21st looks a bit more promising for the average punter. The size stays in the 4ft to 7ft range. Tuesday morning on August 18th is a gem: a 7ft SW swell with a long 18-second period, no wind, and clean surf (2714 energy). Wednesday the 19th has moderate offshore winds all day with 7ft and 7ft swells, keeping things clean. Thursday the 20th gets a bit windy with a fresh offshore, but the swell backs off. Friday morning on the 21st looks clean again with a 6ft SW swell.

After that, it gets ugly again. The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd brings in onshore winds and lumpy, poor conditions. The swell is still around 7ft to 8ft, but with that wind, it's not worth the paddle. This is a good time to find something else to do.

The final couple of days of the forecast, the 24th, have some small, raw swell around 5ft to 7ft, but the wind is onshore, and it looks a bit bleak.

So, if you're an experienced surfer with a big wave board, keep an eye on Monday morning, August 17th. It's going to be big, but clean. And if you're after something a bit more user-friendly, the mornings of August 18th and 19th look like the best combination of size, wind, and clean conditions. But remember, with these long-period groundswells, The Cutting can get a bit straight, so the tide will be key.

This place is a magnet for swell, but it doesn't take much to make it a washing machine. Strap in, it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun night, min 10°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun night, strong winds from the NW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SW by Fri night).

Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
0
0
!
5
3
4
!
!
!
!
!
!
0
!
!
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
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
2.5
SW
16
4
SW
16
4
SW
17
4
SW
16
4
SW
15
4
SW
15
4
SW
15
4
SW
15
4
SW
15
3.5
SW
15
3.5
SW
15
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1299
823
2694
5430
4545
5292
2903
2350
3543
8799
8780
7954
6979
6652
7258
7319
6554
5716
4848
4135
3388
Wind (km/h)
30
NE
30
NNE
10
ESE
30
SW
35
SW
25
W
25
NNW
30
NNW
35
NNW
30
W
35
W
25
W
20
W
25
W
20
WNW
20
WSW
20
SW
10
SW
15
SSW
20
SE
10
E
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
off
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
1:10PM0.87m
1:10PM0.93m
1:19PM0.97m
1:29PM0.97m
1:37PM0.94m
00:01AM0.50m
1:44PM0.91m
00:52AM0.62m
1:51PM0.87m
1:35AM0.71m
Low Tide
11:00PM0.09m
00:07AM0.15m
4:13AM0.16m
5:32AM0.12m
8:37PM0.44m
6:22AM0.11m
8:06PM0.39m
7:02AM0.13m
8:03PM0.30m
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:51
5:52
 mm
4
4
3
3
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
11
12
13
13
13
11
13
13
13
12
12
12
13
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
11
Feels °C
4
6
12
8
6
5
6
6
6
5
5
7
8
8
8
7
7
9
10
8
8
  • Map Icons:
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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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