Conditions at Cactus in August
August: Biggest Average Surf of the Year
August is the statistical peak of the Cactus swell calendar. Average wave height reaches around 6.5ft (2.0m), average period is 13.7s, and the SW direction accounts for 50.1 percent of all swell - by far the most dominant monthly direction. Swell above 5ft (1.5m) is common, with a good chunk in the 6.5-8ft (2-2.5m) range. The catch is wind: ideal offshore flow only occurs 20 percent of the time, while WSW, W and SW winds combine for over 26 percent of observations. The storm systems that generate the swell often accompany it with onshore winds. Still, between cold fronts, strong east/northeast winds behind highs can produce spectacular, slabby conditions at Cactus. Water temperature bottoms out at 15.1°C, so winter rubber is mandatory.
Average Spot conditions at Cactus in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cactus during August. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Cactus for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cactus for August. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Cactus.