
Surf Forecasts:
The Cutting surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 11,980 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 16s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cutting over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at The Cutting. This is the only game in town for the next 16 days, and let me tell you, it's a wild ride.
We're dealing with a spot that's exposed to a southerly swell, and it's a consistent performer, but for the first week or so, it's gonna be a case of "too much of a good thing." The water temp is sittin' right around 57°, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year, no surprises there.
Right out of the gate, starting Thursday the 10th of September, we've got a massive, very long-period SSW groundswell (16 seconds, 11980 combined energy) rolling in at 16ft. That's huge, powerful stuff. The wind is a cross-onshore, and the report is clear: this break is predicted to be too big. This is expert-only, death-or-glory territory, and with that much energy, it's not a casual paddle out. The afternoon holds at 15ft with the same vibe. This pattern of oversized swell continues right through to Sunday the 13th, with heights between 10ft and 15ft. Even the glassy conditions on Saturday afternoon (10ft, glassy) won't make it user-friendly for most. It's just too much water moving around.
Then we finally get a window. On Sunday the 13th of September, the swell drops to a still-punchy 8ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon, from the SW with a long 15-second period. The wind is offshore from the north, 12 mph, creating clean lines. The combined energy is still chunky at 2298 and 1832, but this is the standout. It's "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers," and that's the best call of the whole run. The offshore wind and that long period groundswell will groom the face at The Cutting into something special. Get on it.
Monday the 14th is a write-off with fresh cross-winds and a weak 4ft to 4ft swell. Then from Tuesday the 15th right through to Thursday the 24th of September, we're back into a cycle of huge, raw swells and poor wind conditions. The energy readings are through the roof again, regularly in the four and five-digit range, with heights consistently over 13ft and onshore or cross-onshore winds making a mess of things. Not the time for a paddle.
Finally, the weekend of the 19th and 20th shows a little more promise. Saturday the 19th of September sees the swell back down to 6ft from the south, with a moderate offshore wind from the north (16 mph) for clean conditions (1556 energy). The afternoon drops to 6ft with a fresh offshore breeze. This is another shot for experienced surfers, though the period drops to 11 seconds, so it's less of that deep ocean groundswell. Sunday the 20th is a bit more mixed with cross-offshore winds and an 8ft swell.
Looking further out, the tail end of the forecast, from the 22nd onwards, looks pretty grim again with more giant, wind-affected swell. Friday the 25th of September does show a monster 16ft swell with a very long 17-second period and an offshore wind, but again, this is expert-only water, and with that much energy (13284), only the brave need apply.
So, to wrap it up: the absolute standout is Sunday the 13th of September. Get there for the morning session with that 8ft SW swell and clean offshore wind. It's the only real sweet spot in a period of either too big or too messy. Saturday the 19th is a decent backup for experienced surfers looking for a cleaner wave.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Mon morning, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 8 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
11980 | 9163 | 5940 | 5343 | 7330 | 7262 | 4874 | 4032 | 2959 | 2298 | 1832 | 1077 | 637 | 444 | 2601 | 8082 | 8284 | 6588 | 6904 | 6872 | 4849 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:54PM0.86m | 00:05AM0.53m | 12:56PM0.82m | 00:33AM0.67m | 1:01PM0.79m | 1:03AM0.78m | 1:07PM0.77m | 1:33AM0.86m | 1:16PM0.75m | 2:02AM0.90m | 1:26PM0.74m | 2:31AM0.91m | 1:36PM0.73m | 2:59AM0.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:39PM0.40m | 6:00AM0.21m | 7:09PM0.34m | 6:37AM0.20m | 7:04PM0.26m | 7:08AM0.22m | 7:12PM0.17m | 7:37AM0.25m | 7:26PM0.09m | 8:02AM0.30m | 7:45PM0.03m | 8:25AM0.36m | 8:05PM0.01m | ||||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
11980 | 9163 | 5940 | 5343 | 7330 | 7262 | 4874 | 4032 | 2959 | 2298 | 1832 | 1077 | 637 | 444 | 246 | 8082 | 8284 | 6588 | 6904 | 6872 | 4849 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 97 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | 57 | 139 | 377 | 2601 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 76 | 76 | 35 | 24 | 219 | 35 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 108 | 145 | 76 | 566 | 346 | 24 | 35 | 98 | 35 |
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










