The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Alright, look, this is a tricky one. The only spot on the cards for the whole 16 days is The Cutting, and even then it’s a mixed bag. The pattern is pretty simple: we’ve got solid swell on offer for a good chunk of the run, but the problem is, most of it is just too damn big for this break. We’re looking at a few days of halfway decent, manageable surf early on, then a whole heap of time where the ocean’s just showing off. Let’s run through it.

We kick off Monday, 17 August. The morning has a 5 ft SW groundswell on it, period a long 17 seconds, and combined energy is strong at 2534. The wind’s a gentle ENE cross-off, so it’ll be clean. It’s a touch lumpy for the intermediates, but it’s rideable. The afternoon bumps up to 8 ft from the SW, same long period, energy jumps to 3311, but the wind goes light cross-shore. It’s a bit fat and walled up for my liking, but the conditions are tidy.

Tuesday, 18 August is a step back. Morning has 6 ft SW swell, period drops to 14 seconds, still moderate energy at 1935, but that NE wind is up at 19 mph – a fresh breeze, cross-off. It’s blown clean but it’s a bit of a battle. Afternoon is similar, 6 ft SW, but wind drops to 16 mph.

Wednesday, 19 August is a write-off. Swell drops to 4 ft, energy is weak at 637, and even though the wind is offshore from the N at 22 mph, it’s just not enough ocean to get excited about.

Thursday, 20 August is a weird one. Swell is 7 ft, but it’s a short period 8 seconds from the W, energy is 1982. That’s a messy, choppy wind-swell, not the good stuff. Clean in the morning, but poor quality.

Now, here’s where it starts to look decent. Friday, 21 August the morning brings a 7 ft SW groundswell, period 14 seconds, combined energy a solid 3873. Wind is a gentle WNW cross-off. This is clean, solid, and for the experienced surfer, it’s the best we’ve seen. The afternoon keeps the 8 ft size, period still 14 seconds, energy 4296, but the wind picks up a little.

Saturday, 22 August, things go big. The morning shows 12 ft of SW groundswell, 15 second period, energy a very serious 5882. But mate, that’s too big for The Cutting – this is expert-only territory. Same story for Sunday, 23 August, with 12 ft to 13 ft swells and energy hitting 11736 on Sunday morning. You’d need a death wish and a big gun. The wind is clean, cross-off from the NW, but the ocean is a monster.

That oversized swell hangs around through Monday 24 August, and even into Tuesday 25 August, where it’s still 8 ft. The wind is fresh offshore from the N at 22 mph on Tuesday morning, but the swell is still too much for the break to handle well.

The whole period from Saturday 22 August through to Monday 1 September is basically one long stretch of swell that’s either too big, or junked out with onshore winds. Tuesday 26 August through Thursday 28 August is a write-off with poor conditions and onshore slop.

The only true standout, the one you want to pencil in, is Friday morning, 21 August. That 7 ft SW groundswell with the gentle WNW cross-off wind is the sweet spot. It’s big enough to have power, but not so big it’s closing out. Long period, clean. That’s the one.

Later on, Saturday 29 August shows a promising 7 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 17 second period and energy at 3049, but the wind is a fresh NNE cross-off at 16 mph. It’s clean, but that long period groundswell might be a bit too lined up and straight for a beach break – tends to run away from you. The crowds are “sometimes” a thing here too.

Water temps are about average for the time of year, nothing crazy to report.

So if you’re looking to paddle, keep your eyes on Friday the 21st. Be careful in that monster swell from the 22nd onwards – it’s a big ocean out there.

Rusty.

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