Surf Forecasts:
Cactus surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 18s period, SSW swell with 3,375 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 (Sep 11) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 25s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cactus in the next 16 days are 2.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cactus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk surf at this spot. It’s a slow start, but there’s some proper juice coming our way for those who can handle it. The forecast starts now, and there’s a gap of a few days before the first real standout, so be patient.
Cactus (reef)
Sunday morning, September 6th, fires up straight away. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell out of the southwest with a long 14-second period – plenty of groundswell energy, and the combined reading is a strong 1343. The wind is a light easterly-northeasterly offshore at 6 mph, glassy and clean. Water temp is 61°, right about normal for the season. This is excellent for experienced surfers – at over 6ft, it’s too much for beginners. Crowds pop up here sometimes, but for this quality, it’s worth the company. The swell and wind are aligned perfectly for the reef.
Thursday morning the 10th offers a return to offshore conditions with a 6ft southwest swell and 16-second period, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph easterly – clean but a bit blown. Still worth a look. After that, the surf drops off through the 11th and 12th, with swell falling below 3ft and poor conditions, so there’s a gap of a few quiet days.
Now, Tuesday the 15th of September is the real highlight. The morning brings a 7ft southwest swell with a 16-second period, combined energy at a meaty 2113. The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the east-northeast, offshore and glassy. That’s a long-period groundswell that will draw beautifully on this reef, but at that size, it’s expert only. The morning is the session to chase.
Wednesday the 16th still holds a clean 4ft southwest swell with offshore winds, and the 20th of September delivers the biggest swell of the run: a massive 10ft southwest swell with a 15-second period and combined energy of 3522. The morning is clean with a 12 mph north wind, but that’s big, powerful surf for experts only. The afternoon gets messy with cross-onshore wind and 8ft.
Monday the 21st finishes strong with a 6ft southwest swell (13-second period) and a light 6 mph offshore breeze – clean, solid, and another excellent window for experienced surfers.
To keep it simple: the mornings of the 6th, 15th, and 21st are your best bets. The rest is a mix of wind and chop, and the 20th is for the brave only. The reef will handle the long-period swells beautifully, but you need to pick your tides and your nerve.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun morning, fresh winds from the SE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Wed morning, light winds from the ENE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1343 | 1123 | 495 | 336 | 482 | 850 | 1519 | 1151 | 1096 | 1123 | 2100 | 2415 | 1707 | 1300 | 777 | 536 | 529 | 653 | 322 | 208 | 600 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:43AM0.99m | 1:29AM0.68m | 11:44AM1.13m | 00:44AM0.70m | 11:57AM1.23m | 00:28AM0.79m | 12:11PM1.28m | 00:26AM0.90m | 12:24PM1.29m | 00:33AM1.03m | 12:37PM1.26m | 00:44AM1.14m | 12:48PM1.22m | 00:58AM1.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:06PM0.13m | 5:24AM0.54m | 6:51PM0.12m | 5:29AM0.37m | 6:45PM0.11m | 5:45AM0.23m | 6:43PM0.10m | 6:04AM0.12m | 6:44PM0.07m | 6:23AM0.05m | 6:47PM0.04m | 6:43AM0.02m | 6:53PM-0.01m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 13 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 1343 | 1123 | 495 | 336 | 204 | 850 | 1519 | 1151 | 1096 | 1123 | 2100 | 2415 | 1707 | 1300 | 777 | 536 | 529 | 653 | 322 | 203 | 600 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 13 | — | — | — | SW 20 | — | — | — | SW 26 | SW 25 | SW 24 | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 21 | 71 | 17 | 202 | — | — | — | 640 | — | — | — | 26 | 25 | 22 | — | — | 134 | 208 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 4 | ESE 4 | SSW 13 | SSE 5 | ESE 2 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | S 8 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ESE 2 | SE 5 | NE 4 | — | NE 2 | N 4 | NNW 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 35 | 17 | 482 | 42 | 1 | 18 | 70 | 145 | 177 | 34 | 22 | 1 | 35 | 10 | — | 1 | 9 | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 491 | 287 | 132 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 552 | 491 | 1652 | 1577 | 153 | 243 | 132 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 401 | 178 | 178 |
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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