Surf Forecasts:
Cactus surf forecast from 12 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: Monday 13 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 5,210 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM.
| 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 | 3PM (Mon 13th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cactus over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s happening at Cactus. We’ve got a solid run of good surf potential, but it’s a bit of a slow burner with a few rough days to get through first.
The pattern starts with a massive pulse of energy from the southwest, but it’s messy. Monday morning and afternoon are a write-off with a 10ft swell and strong onshore winds – the combined energy is a huge 8221, but it’s blown out and poor. Tuesday’s still not great, with a 8ft to 7ft SW swell and cross-onshore winds making it fairly choppy.
Then we hit the window. Wednesday morning, July 15th, is the standout. The wind swings offshore from the ENE at 15 km/h, cleaning up a solid 5ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period. The combined energy is a solid 1138, and it’s described as excellent for experienced surfers. That 5ft is a bit much for beginners, but for anyone intermediate and up, this is the pick of the whole forecast. The water temp is sitting at 61°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need to worry about a chill.
The rest of the week drops off fast. Thursday and Friday see the swell backing off to 4ft to 5ft, with clean conditions but lower energy. By Saturday and Sunday, it’s tiny, with 2ft to 3ft and strong offshore winds that just flatten things out.
There’s a quiet gap from July 18th through the 21st, with very little surf of note. The energy just isn’t there.
Then we get a big spike again on July 24th. Friday afternoon brings a 8ft SW swell with a 17-second period combined with a light cross-onshore breeze from the northwest. The combined energy jumps to 5972, and while the wind isn’t perfect, it’s light and the swell is massive. This is for experts only – over 8ft on a reef with a long period is a serious session. The wind looks iffy that morning though, so keep an eye on it.
The very end of the run, around July 27th, shows a 7ft SW swell with clean cross-offshore winds, but it’s marginal with fresh breeze. Not a standout, but it could be a sneaky option for a mid-week paddle.
So, the only real standout is Wednesday morning, July 15th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The later spike on July 24th is promising but less certain, and it’s strictly for the brave.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3077 | 5210 | 3161 | 2645 | 2325 | 1632 | 1138 | 1011 | 813 | 659 | 1160 | 783 | 710 | 492 | 346 | 212 | 178 | 132 | 167 | 370 | 1115 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | 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 |
High Tide | 12:23PM1.38m | 00:49AM0.58m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:39PM0.14m | 5:46AM0.18m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 3077 | 5210 | 3161 | 2645 | 2325 | 1632 | 1138 | 1011 | 813 | 659 | 1160 | 783 | 710 | 492 | 346 | 212 | 178 | 132 | 167 | 370 | 1115 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | S 10 | S 10 | — | W 6 | SW 19 | SW 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 133 | 212 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | SW 12 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 5 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | NNW 4 | N 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 3 |
| kJ | 66 | 3011 | 76 | 68 | 64 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 6 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1423 | 1288 | 1049 | 940 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 401 | 178 | 1 | 564 | 178 | 1 |
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.
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