Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down.

The first real surf on offer isn’t until Saturday afternoon the 22nd of August at Cactus. This is a reef break, open to the southwest swell, and it’s fairly consistent, so you can usually count on something here. Water temp is about 60°F, which is pretty average for this time of year.

Saturday the 22nd brings a solid pulse of SW groundswell at 5ft with a very long period of 15 seconds. That kind of period means the energy is deep and the sets will have some punch, but with a 15-second gap, paddling out won’t be a total fight. The combined swell energy is a strong 1221 (moderate to strong). Wind is a light cross-shore from the SSE at 9 mph – not glass, but workable. It’s a marginal call, so keep an eye on the tide.

Sunday the 23rd looks cleaner. The swell holds at 5ft, period stretches to 17 seconds, and the wind goes cross-offshore from the NNE at 16 mph – that’ll groom the faces nicely. Energy jumps to 1267 (strong). Still a marginal tick, but that offshore flow is a major plus. It drops a little in the afternoon to 4ft, but still worth a session.

Things go downhill Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th – cross-onshore winds, lumpy, choppy, poor surf conditions. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday the 26th is a beauty. Morning brings 4ft from the SW with a gentle 13-second period and light cross-offshore wind from the north. But the afternoon – wow. It goes glassy. Wind drops to 3 mph from the ENE, the sea turns to glass, and you’ve got 3ft of clean, peaky swell. This is a standout session. Calm, clean, easy.

Thursday the 27th morning is a bit of a mixed bag – 3ft but a huge 21-second period, so the sets will be fat and walled, with a strong 19 mph north wind. If you can handle that, you might find a gem. But the afternoon is where it’s at: 7ft from the SW, 19-second period, light offshore north wind, and the energy is cranking at 2831 (strong to very strong). This is for experienced surfers – quality waves.

Friday the 28th is the absolute pick of the forecast. Morning brings 8ft from the WSW, 16-second period, and it’s a clean, offshore flow from the NNE at only 3 mph. The energy is massive: 5032 (very strong). This is exceptional, expert-level surf. If you’ve got the skills, this is your day. The afternoon stays solid at 7ft, still clean and offshore.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th drop back in size – 3ft to 6ft, but the winds stay favourable. Sunday the 30th morning is especially nice: 3ft, 19-second period, and a proper offshore wind from the ENE. Clean, gentle, very good conditions.

The tail end of the window from the 31st of August through to the 6th of September is hit and miss. The 31st has some 5ft to 6ft SW swell with okay winds, but then it gets messy with onshore and cross-shore winds, lumpy conditions, and a lot of poor surf days. Early September the 2nd has a brief clean window with offshore wind, 4ft, but it’s not a standout. The rest is blown out or choppy.

So to sum up: your best bets are Wednesday the 26th afternoon for a glassy, easy session, and Friday the 28th morning for big, powerful, expert-only surf. Get out there.

Rusty.

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