The Cutting Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.41° S 142.52° E

The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Cutting sea temperature is
13.9°C
0.3° 

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 30 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 11,626 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s 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 30) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Sun 30th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Best Surf 7PM (Sun 30th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 4th Sep)16ft (5.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the only game in town for the next couple of weeks: The Cutting.

Right from the get-go, this is a run of solid, consistent swell, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments. We’ve got a big pulse of SW groundswell rolling in, and honestly, for most of this stretch it’s just too damn big for your average Sunday session. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

Starting Sunday the 30th, it’s already pumping at 8 ft from the SW with a 13-second period, but that cross-on wind and the sheer size (10 ft by the afternoon) means it’s more of a washed-out, messy affair. The wave energy is already cranking (2754), but the quality is marginal. Monday the 31st cleans right up though. Glassy conditions and a clean 10 ft SW swell with a 14-second period – that’s proper. The energy is chunky (4770), but the problem is the height; at 10 ft it’s pushing into expert-only territory and the forecast even says it might be too big for The Cutting. Tuesday the 1st of September has a 22 mph offshore wind, which is clean but the 8 ft – 7 ft SW swell is scoring poorly due to tide issues.

Honestly, the whole first week is dominated by waves well over 8 ft. We’re talking 10 ft, 12 ft, 13 ft, even a 16 ft spike on Thursday the 3rd. The combined energy goes from 3101 up to a whopping 15233. The wind is a mixed bag – some clean offshore periods, but also some strong cross-shore junk. For the average punter, this setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially on the 3rd and 5th of September. Those are blown-out, lumpy, and just plain ugly on the 5th.

Now, there’s a little window that pops up. Monday the 7th of September morning, the swell drops back to 7 ft from the SW, 13-second period, with a clean offshore breeze. The energy drops to 1529, and it’s labelled as “excellent” for experienced surfers. That’s your best bet in the first week if you’re not a big-wave charger. Don’t bother with the afternoon – it gets blown to bits by a 34 mph cross-on.

Then we hit a real monster. Tuesday the 8th of September sees a massive spike to 21 ft SW swell with a 17-second period and the combined energy hits 45387. That’s a full-on, life-threatening event, especially with onshore wind. Experts only, and even then, it’s a serious call. The next few days drop back to 15 ft to 10 ft, still too big and mostly choppy under cross-onshore winds.

The second week finally brings some relief. Thursday the 10th of September has a 10 ft SW swell with 14 seconds, and a clean cross-off breeze – that’s rideable for a strong intermediate. Friday the 11th of September morning looks sweet: 8 ft SW, 16-second period, with a glassy cross-off wind. The energy is 3110 and it’s rated excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a standout moment, the best on offer in the whole outlook. The long period (16 seconds) will mean long lulls and powerful lines, best handled on a point or reef, but at The Cutting it should still reel off nicely.

After that, it’s a slow fade. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are still big (10 ft and 8 ft) but with clean offshore winds, so plenty of power but you need to know what you’re doing. By Monday the 14th of September, we finally drop to a more manageable 6 ft, but the wind goes cross-on and the quality is marginal.

So, to keep it simple: if you’re an experienced surfer, the morning of Monday the 7th is your first decent chance. The absolute standout is the morning of Friday the 11th of September – clean, good size, excellent quality. After that, it’s a slow slide into smaller, messier conditions.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Tue morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu night, strong winds from the N by Fri night).

Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
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
!
!
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2
1
!
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!
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0
0
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.1
SW
15
3
SW
14
3
SW
16
3.5
SW
15
4.5
WSW
14
5
WSW
13
5
SW
14
5
SW
15
4.5
SW
15
4
SW
15
3.5
SW
15
4.5
WSW
11
4.5
SW
11
3.5
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2415
2911
3264
3659
3056
4586
2907
1776
3383
4853
5512
8681
8234
9558
11576
8810
6996
4890
4063
4817
3585
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
15
SW
5
WNW
10
NNW
5
SE
20
N
35
NNW
40
NW
25
WSW
25
WNW
25
WNW
30
NW
35
W
30
WSW
15
NNW
25
N
35
NNW
40
NNW
40
W
35
SW
15
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
off
glassy
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
1:44PM0.86m
1:45AM0.75m
1:52PM0.81m
2:13AM0.81m
1:57PM0.76m
2:43AM0.84m
1:57PM0.72m
3:15AM0.85m
1:52PM0.71m
3:50AM0.82m
1:41PM0.73m
4:32AM0.75m
1:26PM0.77m
Low Tide
7:55PM0.24m
7:44AM0.20m
8:01PM0.18m
8:12AM0.26m
8:11PM0.12m
8:36AM0.34m
8:23PM0.07m
8:56AM0.44m
8:38PM0.03m
9:05AM0.54m
8:56PM0.01m
8:53AM0.63m
9:17PM0.02m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:09
6:09
 mm
5
1
2
2
1
10
2
1
Temp °C
11
11
10
13
15
14
18
14
13
13
14
13
13
13
11
18
15
14
12
12
11
Feels °C
8
8
9
11
13
11
10
7
8
7
9
7
6
6
6
12
9
6
4
4
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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