Surf Forecasts:
Cactus surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,548 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cactus in the next 16 days are 2.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cactus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here with the rundown on the Cactus break. We’ve got a good South-West groundswell train rolling in, so there’s plenty to look at, but you’re going to have to pick your moments.
Things kick off on Tuesday, July 14th, but it’s a rough start. That swell is a chunky 8 ft from the SW, with a long 16-second period, and the energy is packing a punch (2872). Problem is, the wind is cross-on from the SSW at 9 mph, making it a bumpy mess.
Your absolute standout is Wednesday, July 15th. The swell backs down to a clean 5 ft from the SW, still with that nice 15-second period, and the wind goes offshore from the ENE at 9 mph. That’s a game-changer. The wave energy is solid (1108), and the conditions are going to be glassy. For a reef break that likes this direction, it’s as good as it gets.
Thursday the 16th is still clean with a cross-off breeze, but the swell drops to 5 ft. It’s surfable, but not the same magic.
From Friday the 17th through the 20th, the surf just fades. It gets smaller every day, dropping under 3 ft by Saturday the 18th. The winds stay okay, but there’s nothing to ride.
Tuesday, July 21st offers a tiny 4 ft window with glassy conditions from the NW at 3 mph. It’s dead calm, but the swell is weak (378). A nice morning for a longboard, but nothing special.
Another quiet spell until Thursday the 23rd, when a new 6 ft pulse of SW swell hits. The energy is back up (1363), but the wind is cross from the NNW, so it’s not perfect.
The following days are all about that same size swell with shifting winds, never quite lining up for that perfect day.
Monday the 27th brings a small 4 ft swell with a clean offshore ENE breeze at 12 mph. It’s a calm, cruisy session.
And finally, Wednesday, July 29th throws in a spicy finish. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 8 ft from the WSW, but with a short 9-second period. The wind goes light offshore, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a beast only for the experts.
If you’re picking the best session of the whole forecast, it’s got to be Wednesday, July 15th. That offshore ENE wind and the solid 5 ft SW groundswell are going to make for some absolute gems. It’s clean, it’s punchy, and it’s the one to circle.
Water temp is 60°F, right around average, so a 3/2 wetsuit will be fine.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2804 | 2325 | 1632 | 1108 | 1011 | 813 | 836 | 1147 | 763 | 710 | 539 | 412 | 257 | 205 | 132 | 183 | 366 | 644 | 566 | 482 | 651 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 12:54PM1.41m | 1:01AM0.62m | 1:19PM1.39m | 1:14AM0.68m | 1:39PM1.33m | 1:29AM0.76m | 1:54PM1.25m | 1:49AM0.83m | 2:05PM1.17m | 2:13AM0.89m | 2:16PM1.10m | 2:41AM0.91m | 2:26PM1.04m | 3:13AM0.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:58PM0.18m | 6:17AM0.12m | 8:10PM0.22m | 6:44AM0.10m | 8:17PM0.25m | 7:10AM0.11m | 8:21PM0.24m | 7:34AM0.15m | 8:28PM0.21m | 7:58AM0.22m | 8:40PM0.17m | 8:22AM0.31m | 8:56PM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 2804 | 2325 | 1632 | 1108 | 1011 | 813 | 836 | 1147 | 763 | 710 | 539 | 412 | 257 | 205 | 132 | 183 | 366 | 644 | 566 | 482 | 651 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 470 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 68 | 109 | 9 | 9 | 9 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | — | — | S 17 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 55 | 23 | — | — | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NNE 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | NE 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 3 | NNW 3 | — | — |
| kJ | 68 | 64 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1035 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 401 | 178 | 1 | 401 | 500 | 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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