Cactus seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (April - August)
For a southwest-facing beach like Cactus, the surf year builds through autumn and peaks during the Southern Hemisphere winter. April through August delivers the most reliable pulse of long-period Southern Ocean groundswell, with average wave periods climbing from 13.3s in April to a solid 13.7s by August, and average wave heights pushing from around 5.6ft (1.7m) to 6.5ft (2.0m). More importantly, high-pressure systems tracking south of Australia become more frequent, opening up offshore corridors from the NNO-NO-ONO-O quadrant. The percentage of ideal wind peaks in May at 27 percent and stays above 20 percent through August. That combination turns the exposed beach into lined-up, rippable surf.
Fair Surf Season (March & September - November)
The shoulder seasons are a gamble. March often has clean lines and still-warm water, but the tail end of the summer trade wind regime keeps ideal winds around 16 percent. September can be huge - average wave heights reach 6.5ft (2.0m) with 13.6s periods - but onshore W/SW winds become more common as the storm track shifts. October and November are transitional, with solid SSW/SW swells but a return to SE/SSE winds and ideal percentages dropping back into the low teens.
Low Surf Season (December - February)
Mid-summer is the weakest link in the Cactus year. Swell heights still average around 5.6ft (1.7m) and the SSW direction is dominant, but average wave periods fall to 11.9-12.1s and the southeast trade winds take over. SE/SSE winds blow around 55 percent of the time in December and January, putting a bump on the surface and making the take-off zones exposed to textured conditions. The good news is water temperature climbs to near 20.7°C and the days are long, but surf quality is usually average at best - save your energy for the autumn and winter months.