Surf Forecasts:
Cactus surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,645 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 16s 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 (Aug 25) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cactus over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, but in feet and miles per hour for you.
So, the first real surf we see is on Friday the 21st of August. It’s not great. A 6ft SW swell with a 16-second period, but it’s blowing cross-shore at 9 mph. It’s a marginal, messy afternoon. Water temp is about 60°, which is normal for this spot.
The standout, without a doubt, is Saturday morning the 22nd of August. Clear skies, light offshore wind from the NE at 6 mph, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the SW with a 15-second period. Energy is strong. That is your session. The reef will be glassy, clean, and running. Crowds can show up, so get there early.
Sunday the 23rd is okay but smaller – 5 to 4ft with a moderate cross-off wind. Still surfable.
Then we hit a rough stretch. Monday the 24th is gross onshore junk. Tuesday the 25th sees 7ft SW swell but with cross-onshore wind and a lot of chop – that’s a kite day, not a paddle day.
Wednesday the 26th is clean but small: 4ft in the morning, maybe 3ft in the afternoon. Fun for small boards.
Thursday the 27th is weird – a 3ft swell with a 20-second period, but the wind is howling at 25 mph. Skip it.
Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are blown out with onshore gales and rain.
Sunday the 30th cleans up. The swell builds from 3ft to 5ft in the afternoon with a moderate cross-off wind. Not epic, but clean.
Now, the next big one: Monday the 31st of August. This is your top pick. Clear, light east wind at 6 mph, and a solid 6ft SW swell with a 17-second period. The energy is pumping. It’s excellent for experienced surfers and clean as a whistle. Mark that date.
The first few days of September look clean but smaller. Tuesday the 1st: 5ft with light winds. Wednesday the 2nd: 4ft, also clean. Thursday the 3rd fires up again: 6ft SW with a moderate offshore wind from the ENE at 16 mph. That one is for the advanced crew.
Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th drop back into choppy, windy junk.
So, the two best are Saturday morning the 22nd and Monday morning the 31st of August. The 31st is the king. The rest is a mix of clean small days and rough weather. This reef break is fairly consistent, so it should bounce back.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NE by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1511 | 1402 | 1216 | 936 | 924 | 1267 | 886 | 550 | 289 | 487 | 1521 | 2255 | 1363 | 725 | 431 | 310 | 410 | 700 | 2381 | 1995 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on |
High Tide | 3:31AM0.80m | 12:48PM0.83m | 2:55AM0.66m | 11:50AM0.92m | 1:02AM0.62m | 11:40AM1.06m | 00:18AM0.68m | 11:50AM1.19m | 00:13AM0.78m | 12:06PM1.30m | 00:22AM0.89m | 12:24PM1.38m | 00:36AM1.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:33PM0.21m | 7:56AM0.66m | 8:02PM0.28m | 5:37AM0.64m | 7:09PM0.28m | 5:03AM0.50m | 6:40PM0.23m | 5:15AM0.35m | 6:35PM0.15m | 5:35AM0.21m | 6:40PM0.08m | 5:57AM0.09m | 6:51PM0.02m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 16 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | — |
| kJ | 1511 | 1402 | 1216 | 936 | 924 | 1267 | 886 | 550 | 289 | 450 | — | — | — | 725 | 431 | 310 | 410 | 407 | 2381 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 24 | SW 20 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 86 | 285 | 369 | — | — | — | 15 | 112 | — | — | — | 15 | 49 | 161 | 22 | 700 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | NE 3 | N 4 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | SW 17 |
| kJ | 69 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 6 | 12 | 487 | 1521 | 2255 | 1363 | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | 1995 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 361 | 287 | 491 | 1052 | 941 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 564 | 178 | 564 |
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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