Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, weather’s lookin’ glassy and we’ve got some solid groundswell lined up, so grab your board. Let’s get into it.

The first few days are the real story here, but there’s a long quiet patch in the middle where things get messy, and then a nice little comeback in the second week.

Sunday, August 30th kicks off with clean little waves at Cactus. Swell is 2 ft from the SW with a long 19 second period, and the morning has an offshore ENE breeze at 12 mph keeping things nice and tidy. The water’s about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Combined energy is solid at 452 – not massive, but quality over quantity. Afternoon picks up a bit – 4 ft, same long period, cross-off wind, and the energy jumps right up to 1016. This is your pick for the early part of the forecast. Clean, lined-up, not too big, perfect for an intermediate session.

Monday, August 31st keeps the swell ticking over at 5 ft from the SW, again with that long 18–19 second period. The morning cross-off from the NNE keeps it clean, but the score starts to drop a little. Afternoon is similar. Still surfable, still good, but the magic of Sunday afternoon is the true standout.

Here’s where it gets tough. Tuesday, September 1st through to the end of the first week is a write-off. Strong onshore and cross-shore winds, lumpy, choppy, and just not fun. The swell sticks around – even hitting over 8 ft by Friday and Saturday – but the wind ruins it. By Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th you’ve got 10 ft to 12 ft SW swell, but with cross-on and onshore winds up to 19 mph, it’s a washing machine. Combined energy is massive – 10,483 on Saturday afternoon – but there’s no point paddling out unless you’re on a kite. That kind of power with that wind is just a mess.

Monday, September 7th and Tuesday, September 8th stay big – 10 ft from the SW, but still with cross or cross-on winds. The morning of the 8th looks a little cleaner with a light NW cross and some energy in the 4500s, but it’s still just marginal. Not a recommendation.

Then Wednesday, September 9th brings a nice surprise. The swell drops to 7 ft, but light offshore E wind at 6 mph makes for clean conditions. Energy’s at 1806 – still moderate to strong – and the period drops to 14 seconds, which is a bit more manageable for this reef setup. That morning session is a solid call for experienced surfers. It’s not as good as that Sunday, but it’s the best of the second week.

Thursday, September 10th morning drops further to 4 ft with light offshore wind and clean surf. Combined energy is only 504, so it’s a smaller, more relaxed wave. Good for a fun, low-key session.

The weekend of September 12th and 13th goes back to poor conditions – strong winds and messy surf. Then Monday, September 14th finishes the forecast with a return to clean offshore ENE wind at 9 mph, 6 ft SW swell at 14 seconds, and energy of 1099. That’s a solid, clean option for the Monday morning.

Overall, the standout is without doubt Sunday, August 30th afternoon at Cactus – 4 ft, clean cross-off wind, long period groundswell, and excellent quality. Second best is Wednesday, September 9th morning, which offers good clean conditions for experienced surfers. There is a long stretch from Tuesday, September 1st through Sunday, September 6th where the surf is poor, so plan around that.

Rusty.

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