The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

The Cutting (No Region URL available)
Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of days are pretty much a write-off unless you’re just desperate for a paddle. Monday the 14th has a bit of southwest groundswell rolling in at 4.6ft with a 13-second period, but the west-northwest cross-off wind is only doing so much. It’s clean-ish, but the energy is weak – combined energy sitting at 882 – and the score reflects it. You’re better off waiting. Tuesday the 15th is a no-go. The swell jumps to 14.8ft, but the wind swings southwest and slams it onshore. That’s a big, messy, blown-out mess. Not your day.

Wednesday the 16th stays big – 14.8ft on a 15-second period – but the wind is straight on. It’s all noise. Thursday the 17th is where things start to look interesting, but here’s the catch: the swell is 9.8ft, which is too big for this break. The wind is light and the tide is favorable, but that size is going to close out and wash through. Strong energy at 4105, but unless you’re a local who knows the ledge, give it a miss.

Now, Friday the 18th morning – that’s a small window. Swell drops to 6.2ft, period jumps to 17 seconds, and the northwest cross-off wind has things clean. Energy is moderate at 3893, but it’s still a bit marginal. The afternoon builds to 9.8ft on a 16-second period, and that’s too big again, even though the wind is offshore. Saturday the 19th is your real standout. Morning is 7.9ft, but the afternoon gets it together: 6.9ft from the WSW, 13 seconds, and a proper north-northwest offshore wind. That’s clean, lined-up, and the most surfable it’s been all week. Energy is moderate at 1557, but the quality is there. This is the one to be out for.

Sunday the 20th is a bit of a tease. Morning has 11.5ft of west swell with a fresh northwest cross-off – clean but way too big. Afternoon drops to 9.8ft but the wind goes cross and it gets lumpy. Not worth it. Monday the 21st blows out again – 13.1ft to 14.8ft, light cross-onshore, but absolutely too big. The energy is huge at 10943 on the afternoon, but this break can’t handle that size. Tuesday the 22nd is similar – 13.1ft, clean offshore wind, but still too big.

The rest of the run is just a wall of too-big surf. Wednesday the 23rd has 11.5ft with a fresh cross-off, but the afternoon turns onshore. Thursday the 24th is blown out. Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th are smaller – around 5.9ft to 8.2ft – but the wind is cross-onshore and the energy is weak. Not worth the drive.

Now, the later window – the 27th and 28th of September – is where it gets wild. The 27th has 11.5ft to 13.1ft of SSW swell with a 16-17 second period, but it’s simply too big for this spot. The energy is off the charts – 9689 and 9104 – but you’d need a jet ski and a death wish. The 28th has 9.8ft on a 15-16 second period, with a light offshore or cross-off wind, and it’s still too big. The last day, the 29th, has 13.1ft from the SSW with a fresh WNW cross-off, and again – too big.

So, here’s the deal: the only truly good window is Saturday the 19th, late afternoon. That’s your standout. The second best is Friday the 18th morning, but it’s marginal. Everything else is either too big, blown out, or both. The water temp – no anomaly noted – is about average for this time of year. Not much to say there, just normal.

If you’re a beginner, stay home for most of this run – anything over 4.9ft is going to push you around, and there’s plenty of that. For the experts, Saturday afternoon is your chance. The rest is just watching and waiting. This spot is out of control on the big swells – it’s a beach setup, and when it’s over 8.2ft, it’s not even fun. Unless you’ve got a kite and want to shred the onshore wind days – Tuesday and Thursday look more like kite conditions than surf conditions.

Keep it on the radar, but don’t hold your breath. The 27th through the 29th are all “too big” – you’re just going to have to let that one pass. Forecasts can shift, but as it stands, Saturday afternoon is the pick.

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