Conditions at Cactus in January
January: Mid-Summer Trade Wind Slop
January is the heart of the Australian summer, and at Cactus the SSW swell machine keeps rolling with an average wave height of around 5.6ft (1.7m) and a period of 11.9s. The swell window is almost absurdly consistent: a combined 55.8 percent from the SSW and another 13.7 percent from the SW, with plenty of surf in the 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m) range. The problem is the wind. Ideal offshore NNO-NO-ONO-O flow manages only 10 percent of the time, while SE and SSE winds combine for over 55 percent of observations. These strong southeast trades, often blowing 20-40kph, put a bump on the surface and make the bowl sections less predictable. Air temperatures average 22.6°C with hot summer spikes, and water temperature sits at 20.7°C, so it is certainly pleasant. Just don't expect pristine, glassy conditions every day.
Average Spot conditions at Cactus in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cactus during January. 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 January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cactus for January. 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.