The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming up for The Cutting over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water is sitting at 57°F which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary there.

Alright, we kick things off on Friday the 31st of July. It's not huge, but there's a solid 7ft SW groundswell with a nice 12-second period rolling in. The combined energy is a strong 1350, and the wind is a light cross-off, keeping things clean. This is proper intermediate territory. It's a consistent break, so you should get plenty of waves. Expect some company though, as it can get crowded here.

Things really start to hum on Saturday the 1st of August. The morning has a 6ft SSW groundswell, but the period jumps up to a very long 17 seconds. That’s a serious groundswell with heaps of energy (2462) and clean offshore winds from the north. This is a standout. That long period will mean nice, lined-up sets, but it might throw in a few rights and lefts that peel a bit straight at the beach. In the afternoon, the swell pumps up to 10ft from the SW with the same long period, and the wave energy goes through the roof (4938). The wind goes cross-off, but that size is getting into expert-only territory. It’s a solid day for the experienced crew.

Sunday the 2nd keeps the energy high. We’ve got 10ft SW swell again with a 16-second period (3840 energy) and brisk offshore winds. This is still big, clean, and powerful, but it's only for the guys who know what they're doing. The afternoon drops to 8ft, still with a long period and offshore wind, but the quality drops a notch.

Monday the 3rd is a write-off for The Cutting. The wind is howling from the NW at 19 mph, and the morning swell is already showing signs of being ragged, despite the size. By the afternoon, we’ve got a massive 15ft WSW swell (7164 energy) with a cross-onshore wind. It’s messy, blown out, and way too big for this spot.

After a couple of average days, things clean up again on Wednesday the 5th of August. The swell drops back to a manageable 6ft from the SW with a 14-second period (2018 energy). Light cross-off winds from the WNW make for a clean, fun session for the intermediate surfer.

The next best window looks like Friday the 7th of August. The morning shows 10ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period (4062 energy) and clean offshore winds. That is a massive, powerful, clean swell. The afternoon is even better for expert surfers: 8ft SW swell, a 17-second period, and light offshore breezes. This is another true standout.

The second week gets wild. From Saturday the 8th through Tuesday the 11th, we’re looking at a run of solid 10ft to 16ft SW swells with very long periods. The combined energy readings are hitting huge numbers (up to 14075). The winds are mostly offshore or cross-off, keeping it clean, but at those sizes – over 8ft and often over 10ft – this is strictly for experts. It's big, powerful, and not for the faint of heart. The 10th of August in particular is an absolute monster with a 16ft SW swell and a very long 18-second period, and the energy is massive (14075). That is a session for the brave only.

After that big run, the end of the period from the 12th gets messy. Strong cross-shore and cross-onshore winds ruin the quality, turning the big, powerful swell into a lumpy, choppy mess. The 14th of August is particularly grim with 16ft SW swell and strong onshore winds.

So, to wrap it up: The standout days are Saturday the 1st of August in the morning and Friday the 7th of August for the afternoon. Both offer clean, powerful, long-period groundswell with good winds. The first week has some fantastic, albeit large, windows. The second week is a big, clean, gnarly affair for the experts only.

Rusty.

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