The Cutting Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down The Cutting.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a massive pulse of swell hitting, but here’s the thing – for almost the whole first week and into early August, the waves are just too big for this break. We’re talking serious energy, with the combined swell energy hitting 12558 on Friday the 24th morning, and staying huge for days. That’s strong to very strong energy, but when the waves are over 8ft and hitting 18ft at times, that’s expert-only or just straight-up closing out. The wind is mostly cross or side-shore, fresh at times, so it’s lumpy.

The first real shot at a good session doesn’t come until Thursday the 30th of July. Thursday morning, the swell drops to a still-chunky 8ft from the SW with a 12-second period. The energy is moderate (2171), and we’ve got a light breeze from the NNW: that’s cross-offshore – clean conditions, and it’s rated for experienced surfers. This is a standout window. The Cutting is consistent, exposed to the S swell, so this SW direction is perfect. Look for some power in the sets, but the period is long enough to shape up. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so expect some company.

Moving into Friday the 31st of July, the afternoon has a special one. The swell drops to 5ft from the SSW with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s groundswell, and for a setup like The Cutting, it’ll be clean with a gentle cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (2641). This is another excellent window for experienced surfers – the waves will have that deep-water push and nice lines, but with such a long period, the sets will be more spaced out. It’s quality, not quantity.

Then we get into August, and the swell jumps back up. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd have 10ft to 13ft SW swell with very long periods (16-18 seconds) and clean winds, but it’s just too big again at 10ft for anything but the brave. By Tuesday the 4th of August morning, it drops back to a manageable 7ft from the SSW with a 15-second period. The energy is moderate (4245), and with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, it’s clean. That’s another good call for experienced surfers, and it might be a touch more doable for a strong intermediate.

After that, it’s a lot of big swell again, with 10ft to 13ft plus on the cards, and some offshore winds, but the size keeps it out of reach for most. The pattern stays active right through to the 8th of August, with a final drop to 6ft on the Saturday morning, but the energy is lower and the wind is side-shore, so it’s more of a marginal day.

So, to sum it up: The best bets are Thursday morning the 30th of July and Friday afternoon the 31st of July for clean, powerful but not oversized waves. Tuesday the 4th of August morning is also a very solid option. The rest of the time, it’s either too big or just not clean enough. If you’re an experienced surfer with a big-wave gun, you might find some fun on the 1st and 2nd, but it’s not for everyone.

Rusty.

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