
Surf Forecasts:
The Cutting surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 14,658 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Cutting in the next 16 days are 5.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 18ft (5.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cutting over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks at The Cutting.
Right now, the ocean’s got some serious grunt, but it’s a mixed bag. We’re kicking off with a solid groundswell that’s got plenty of energy, but it’s a bit of a beast – too big for most, and the wind’s not always playing nice. The first real standout is this Monday morning, the 20th of July. We’ve got a 6 ft swell rolling in from the WSW with a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 1487 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a clean offshore from the NNW at 12 mph, so it’s going to be glassy. These are excellent conditions for experienced surfers, because it’s a bit too much for beginners at over 5 ft. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
Tuesday morning, the 21st, is another cracker. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, and the energy is up to 2036 (strong wave energy). Still a moderate offshore breeze from the NNW, keeping it clean. This is big, powerful stuff – definitely for the experienced crew only, as it’s over 8 ft. The Cutting is a consistent spot, and crowds can pop up sometimes, but with conditions like this, it’ll be worth jostling for a wave.
After that, things get gnarly. From Wednesday afternoon onward, the swell gets enormous, pushing up to 18 ft and beyond, with cross-onshore and onshore winds that are going to make it a washing machine. The energy numbers go through the roof – over 14000 on Friday morning (very strong wave energy) – but it’s just too big and messy. The forecast even says it’s too big for this break. This stretch is really only for the kamikaze crew, or honestly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with those strong winds. This messy period runs from about Wednesday the 22nd right through to the end of the month.
We’ve got a gap of several days there with no real recommendations for a good paddle session. Then, things finally settle down. Looking at Monday the 3rd of August, we’re back in the game. The morning offers a 8 ft swell from the SW, period 12 seconds, and a light offshore breeze from the north at 6 mph. The energy is 2068 (strong wave energy), and it’s clean. This is another excellent one for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds similar with a 8 ft swell. Tuesday the 4th of August is also a beauty to end the run – 7 ft from the SW, 12-second period, light offshore from the NNE, and clean conditions. This is a bit more manageable and still good quality.
So, the real highlights are the mornings of the 20th, 21st of July, and then the 3rd and 4th of August. The long-range call for the start of August is promising, but it’s a bit further out, so keep an eye on the charts. For now, get on it early next week if you’ve got the skills.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Fri morning, light winds from the WSW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1433 | 757 | 1860 | 2036 | 1673 | 1323 | 666 | 2876 | 8044 | 7975 | 8200 | 11471 | 14137 | 12738 | 10481 | 6343 | 4747 | 2960 | 2008 | 1535 | 1956 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:02PM0.81m | 3:51AM0.68m | 3:10PM0.78m | 4:45AM0.67m | 3:13PM0.75m | 5:51AM0.65m | 3:03PM0.72m | 2:20PM0.72m | 1:03PM0.76m | 12:45PM0.82m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 9:37PM0.19m | 9:14AM0.38m | 10:02PM0.15m | 9:39AM0.48m | 10:29PM0.14m | 9:53AM0.57m | 10:56PM0.15m | 11:26PM0.17m | 00:07AM0.21m | 1:58AM0.23m | |||||||||||
7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 |
1433 | 757 | 1860 | 2036 | 1673 | 1323 | 666 | 2388 | 8044 | 7975 | 8200 | 10144 | 14137 | 11036 | 9516 | 6343 | 4747 | 2960 | 2008 | 1535 | 1527 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
50 | 105 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 91 | 174 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | SSE 12 |
4 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 27 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | WNW 8 | — | NNW 4 | — | W 7 | W 7 | SW 12 | — | — | — | SW 15 | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 |
12 | 202 | — | 8 | — | 320 | 236 | 2876 | — | — | — | 11471 | — | 12738 | 10481 | — | — | — | — | — | 1956 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 145 | 672 | 158 | 672 | 668 | 158 | 158 | 108 | 108 | 24 | 76 | 24 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Far West of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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










