Conditions at Cactus in September
September: Powerful Swell, Returning Wind Instability
September keeps the winter momentum with around 6.5ft (2.0m) of average swell and a 13.6s period, but the atmosphere begins to shift toward spring. The SW direction still dominates at 47.6 percent, with SSW at 26.9 percent, so the beach remains exposed to substantial groundswell. The trade wind influence rebuilds as SE/SSE winds creep back to 16.4 percent, and SW/WSW/W winds are nearly as common as the offshore quadrants. Ideal wind drops to 17 percent, making for a more mixed bag. When a morning N/NE offshore coincides with a long-period SW groundswell, the waves at Cactus are world-class; but the windows can be shorter and the surface more contested. Water temp is still cold at 15.6°C, and air temps begin to warm to 15.5°C.
Average Spot conditions at Cactus in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Cactus during September. 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 September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Cactus for September. 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.