Surf Forecasts:
Cactus surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 5,392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cactus this week:
The surf forecast for Cactus over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cactus in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cactus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for Cactus. It's a reef setup that loves a good SW groundswell, and we're in for a long, bumpy ride before any real magic shows up.
The forecast kicks off with a real stinker. Sunday the 9th through to Wednesday the 12th is just a write-off. We're looking at a heavy onshore beatdown with winds howling from the WSW at 31 mph or more, dragging in a big, chunky 9.8 ft SW swell. The wave energy is massive (1068 to 4446) but it's all just a mess – poor surf conditions across the board. This isn't paddle surfing, this is kite-surfing territory if anything. The water temp is 59.9°, which is pretty standard for this time of year.
Now, hold on to your boardies, because Thursday the 13th is where it gets interesting. We wake up to glassy conditions – a total wind shift, calm as a millpond. That solid 7.2 ft SW groundswell (period 15 seconds) is still rolling in with strong energy (2208). This is excellent, clean surf, but at 7.2 ft, this is one for the experienced crew only. It'll be a proper reef beast. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-onshore breeze that roughens it up, so the morning is the window.
Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are the real standouts, though. Friday morning is glassy again with a still-chunky 6.2 ft SW swell (1697 energy). The afternoon cleans right up with a light cross-offshore breeze, and that swell is still a healthy 6.9 ft with a 17-second period – proper, long-range groundswell. Saturday keeps the clean cross-off winds all day, with the swell easing from 5.9 ft down to 5.2 ft. The wave energy is still very solid (1532 to 1265). This is the sweet spot: solid, clean, powerful reef waves. Get on it. Crowds are possible here, so expect some company.
Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th see the swell drop back to 3.6 ft to 4.3 ft, but the winds are offshore (E then NE). It's clean, smaller surf – a good option for a wider range of abilities after the bigger days.
The rest of the second week gets messy again. Tuesday the 18th is clean but marginal, and from Wednesday the 19th onward it's back to onshore winds and poor conditions through to the 23rd. Monday the 24th of August looks promising again, with a clean, light offshore wind and a small but punchy 3.0 ft SW swell (617 energy) – could be a fun little morning session.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (gales from the WSW on Sun night, light winds from the WNW by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3773 | 2014 | 2623 | 3882 | 2645 | 1513 | 746 | 2265 | 4491 | 3586 | 3123 | 2203 | 1753 | 1684 | 1568 | 1878 | 1878 | 1654 | 1374 | 1125 | 825 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:38AM1.14m | 1:00AM0.58m | 12:03PM1.28m | 00:48AM0.63m | 12:27PM1.36m | 00:49AM0.71m | 12:48PM1.38m | 00:57AM0.80m | 1:06PM1.36m | 1:08AM0.91m | 1:19PM1.30m | 1:22AM1.00m | 1:29PM1.24m | 1:39AM1.08m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:12PM0.14m | 5:06AM0.41m | 7:16PM0.11m | 5:37AM0.27m | 7:23PM0.11m | 6:04AM0.16m | 7:30PM0.12m | 6:29AM0.08m | 7:34PM0.13m | 6:52AM0.05m | 7:37PM0.11m | 7:13AM0.06m | 7:42PM0.07m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — |
 | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — |
mm | 12 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2645 | 1513 | 746 | 1798 | — | — | — | 2203 | 1753 | 1684 | 1568 | 1878 | 1878 | 1654 | 1374 | 1125 | 825 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | NNW 3 | NW 5 | WSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3773 | 2014 | 2623 | 3882 | 68 | 4 | 73 | 2265 | 4491 | 3586 | 3123 | 64 | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 401 | 500 | 1052 | 1165 | 1560 | 510 | 1111 | 1227 | 1344 | 1219 | 1220 | 648 | 1 | 648 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nullarbor | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cactus Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cactus provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cactus can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cactus 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 (Cactus) 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 Cactus 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 Nullarbor? If you are looking for accommodation near Cactus, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nullarbor, consider staying in Thevenard which is 63 km (39 miles) away.
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