Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the surf for Cactus.

We’ve got a run of cleaner, more manageable surf coming up, but the big news is what’s brewing for the second week. The standout window is looking like Thursday, August 14th, and Friday, August 15th, but we have to get through a bit of a rough stretch first.

The week starts off okay. Friday morning, July 31st, we’ve got a clean 3ft SW swell with a 13-second period, but the cross-off wind is a bit stiff at 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate (480). The afternoon cleans up nicely with a gentle breeze and a 3ft SW swell at 14 seconds, energy picking up to 604. It’s clean, but not huge.

Saturday, August 1st, the swell bumps up to 4ft from the SW, period jumps to 17 seconds, and the energy is solid (765). The morning has a fresh cross-off breeze, but by the afternoon, the wind goes cross and the chop picks up, making it a bit messy. Sunday, August 2nd, is a write-off. The swell is over 5ft, but the wind is onshore and strong, with waves up to 6ft. It’s a choppy, blown-out mess, not worth paddling for. The combined energy is strong (1253-1271), but the quality is poor. This is a gap of several days of poor quality.

Monday, August 3rd, offers a bit of hope. The morning has a light cross breeze and a 6ft SW swell, but the energy is high (1179). The wind is light, but the cross-shore angle makes it marginal. The afternoon turns choppy again.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday, August 4th, is a proper gem. We get a clean 4ft SW swell, but look at the wind: a solid offshore breeze from the NE at 12 mph. The waves are clean, and the energy is still moderate (823). That offshore wind is the key. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze.

Wednesday, August 5th, the morning is clean again with a 3ft SW swell, but the period is a very long 19 seconds. This is a groundswell, and while it brings plenty of energy (827), that long period can make it break a bit straight at a beach. It’s still a good bet.

Thursday, August 6th, is another clean morning with a 4ft SW swell at 16 seconds, light offshore wind, and moderate energy (853). The afternoon stays clean, but gets a little cross-chop.

The real prize is the end of the second week. On Thursday, August 14th, we’ve got excellent surf. The morning brings a clean 7ft SW swell from the SW with a very long 18-second period, and a gentle cross-off breeze. The combined energy is very strong (2546). This is a big, powerful groundswell. The afternoon is even better: glassy conditions with a 6ft SW swell, 18-second period, and a slight air. The energy is still very strong (2210). This is the best on offer – clean, powerful, and long-period. It’s a bit too big for beginners, but for experienced surfers, it’s a dream.

Friday, August 15th, the morning is still very good, with a 6ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a cross-off breeze. The energy is massive (3032). Cactus is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely and produce some proper lines. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue here, but on a day like this, it’s worth the crowd.

Overall, the surf is on the up. The first week has clean windows, but the second week is where the real size and quality comes in. The water temp is about average for the time of year, no major anomaly to report.

Rusty out.

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