Conditions at Cactus in May
May: Peak Clean-Water Windows
May takes the cake for all-round consistency. The average wave height rises slightly to around 5.9ft (1.8m), the period holds at 13.4s, and the wind is ideal 27 percent of the time - the highest mark of the entire year. Swell distribution shifts strongly toward the SW (43.4 percent) alongside SSW (34.8 percent), meaning those powerful Southern Ocean pulses hit the beach dead-on. With more high-pressure ridges south of Australia, offshore easterly winds become a regular morning feature, creating clean, lined-up conditions before the afternoon sea breeze. Water temperature drops to 18.3°C and air temps cool to 15.9°C, so you'll want a spring suit, but the quality payoff is worth it.
Average Spot conditions at Cactus in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cactus during May. 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 May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cactus for May. 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.