Surf Forecast for Cactus
type: Dataset
description: 10-day surf forecast with Strike Scores for Cactus, Nullarbor, Australia
about: Cactus
  type: TouristAttraction
  geo: GeoCoordinates
    latitude: -32.0864
    longitude: 132.9803
  description: Cactus is Australia's most remote quality surf zone—a collection of breaks at the edge of the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia, where the Southern Ocean delivers raw power to an isolated stretch of coastline. The main break is a hollow left that peels along a limestone reef, with nearby spots including the slab Supertubes. Getting here requires a 12-hour drive from Adelaide through desert scrub. The reward is empty lineups, powerful waves, and genuine wilderness surfing. Bring everything—nearest help is hours away.
summary:
  best day:
    date: 2026-08-06
    score: 85
    category: Firing
    explanation: Best day in the forecast: 2026-08-06 with a score of 85/100 (Firing)
  firing days count: 1
  firing days:
    date: 2026-08-06
    score: 85
  overall recommendation: Moderate recommendation: Cactus has 1 Firing day(s) and 1 Good day(s). Worth considering.
forecasts:
  date: 2026-08-05
  day index: 0
  strike score:
    final score: 55
    category: Fair
    category emoji: 😐
    confidence: 1
    confidence explanation: Very high confidence (0-1 day forecast)
    breakdown:
      swell direction:
        score: 23
        out of: 25
        explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 228° is 3° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
      swell size:
        score: 9
        out of: 25
        explanation: Marginal size: 1.6m is 0.6m from ideal 2.3m.
      swell period:
        score: 25
        out of: 25
        explanation: Perfect period: 17s is at or above ideal 16s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
      wind:
        score: 3
        out of: 25
        explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 14 km/h from 301° (WNW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
    adjustments:
      wind history:
        adjustment: 0
        groomed: false
        morning sickness: false
        explanation: No significant wind history adjustment.
      windswell penalty:
        adjustment: 0
        windswell degraded: false
        explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
      secondary swell bonus:
        adjustment: 0
        explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
    summary: Surfable but not special at Cactus. The 1.6m swell from 228° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
  conditions:
    swell:
      height m: 1.6
      height ft: 5.2
      direction degrees: 228
      direction cardinal: SW
      period s: 17
      explanation: 1.6m (5.2ft) swell from 228° (SW) at 17s period
    wind:
      speed kmh: 14
      speed mph: 8.7
      direction degrees: 301
      direction cardinal: WNW
      explanation: 14 km/h (9 mph) from 301° (WNW)
    secondary swell:
      height m: 0.7
      direction degrees: 179
      direction cardinal: S
      period s: 7
forecasts:
  date: 2026-08-06
  day index: 1
  strike score:
    final score: 85
    category: Firing
    category emoji: 🔥
    confidence: 1
    confidence explanation: Very high confidence (0-1 day forecast)
    breakdown:
      swell direction:
        score: 22
        out of: 25
        explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 229° is 4° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
      swell size:
        score: 18
        out of: 25
        explanation: Marginal size: 2.3m is 0.0m from ideal 2.3m.
      swell period:
        score: 25
        out of: 25
        explanation: Perfect period: 16s is at or above ideal 16s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
      wind:
        score: 18
        out of: 25
        explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 8 km/h from 137° (SE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
    adjustments:
      wind history:
        adjustment: 0
        groomed: false
        morning sickness: false
        explanation: No significant wind history adjustment.
      windswell penalty:
        adjustment: 0
        windswell degraded: false
        explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
      secondary swell bonus:
        adjustment: 0
        explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
    summary: Excellent conditions at Cactus. The 2.3m swell from 229° aligns well with the spot, and light offshore winds are grooming the face. Worth planning a trip around this.
  conditions:
    swell:
      height m: 2.3
      height ft: 7.5
      direction degrees: 229
      direction cardinal: SW
      period s: 16
      explanation: 2.3m (7.5ft) swell from 229° (SW) at 16s period
    wind:
      speed kmh: 8
      speed mph: 5.0
      direction degrees: 137
      direction cardinal: SE
      explanation: 8 km/h (5 mph) from 137° (SE)
forecasts:
  date: 2026-08-07
  day index: 2
  strike score:
    final score: 64
    category: Fair
    category emoji: 😐
    confidence: 0.95
    confidence explanation: High confidence (2-3 day forecast)
    breakdown:
      swell direction:
        score: 23
        out of: 25
        explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 228° is 3° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
      swell size:
        score: 20
        out of: 25
        explanation: Good size: 2.7m is within 15% of ideal 2.3m.
      swell period:
        score: 25
        out of: 25
        explanation: Perfect period: 16s is at or above ideal 16s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
      wind:
        score: 1
        out of: 25
        explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 19 km/h from 7° (N). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
    adjustments:
      wind history:
        adjustment: 0
        groomed: false
        morning sickness: false
        explanation: No significant wind history adjustment.
      windswell penalty:
        adjustment: 0
        windswell degraded: false
        explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
      secondary swell bonus:
        adjustment: 0
        explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
    summary: Surfable but not special at Cactus. The 2.7m swell from 228° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
  conditions:
    swell:
      height m: 2.7
      height ft: 8.9
      direction degrees: 228
      direction cardinal: SW
      period s: 16
      explanation: 2.7m (8.9ft) swell from 228° (SW) at 16s period
    wind:
      speed kmh: 19
      speed mph: 11.8
      direction degrees: 7
      direction cardinal: N
      explanation: 19 km/h (12 mph) from 7° (N)
    windswell:
      height m: 0.6
      period s: 3
      explanation: Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)
forecasts:
  date: 2026-08-08
  day index: 3
  strike score:
    final score: 61
    category: Fair
    category emoji: 😐
    confidence: 0.92
    confidence explanation: High confidence (2-3 day forecast)
    breakdown:
      swell direction:
        score: 23
        out of: 25
        explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 228° is 3° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
    summary: Surfable but not special at Cactus. The 2.6m swell from 228° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
provider: Strike Mission
date published: 2026-08-05T00:29:48.482Z
temporal coverage: 2026-08-05/2026-08-14
data sources: Open-Meteo Marine API (swell/wave data)
data sources: Open-Meteo Weather API (wind/weather data)

score: 23
out of: 25
explanation: Good size: 2.6m is within 15% of ideal 2.3m.

score: 25
out of: 25
explanation: Perfect period: 16s is at or above ideal 16s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.

score: 1
out of: 25
explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 19 km/h from 307° (NW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.

wind history:
  adjustment: 0
  groomed: false
  morning sickness: false
  explanation: No significant wind history adjustment.
windswell penalty:
  adjustment: 0
  windswell degraded: false
  explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
secondary swell bonus:
  adjustment: 0
  explanation: No secondary swell bonus.

swell:
  height m: 2.6
  height ft: 8.5
  direction degrees: 228
  direction cardinal: SW
  period s: 16
  explanation: 2.6m (8.5ft) swell from 228° (SW) at 16s period
wind:
  speed kmh: 19
  speed mph: 11.8
  direction degrees: 307
  direction cardinal: NW
  explanation: 19 km/h (12 mph) from 307° (NW)
windswell:
  height m: 0.5
  period s: 3
  explanation: Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)

date: 2026-08-09
day index: 4
strike score:
  final score: 2
  category: Poor
  category emoji: 💤
  confidence: 0.89
  confidence explanation: Moderate confidence (4-5 day forecast)
  breakdown:
    swell direction:
      score: 16
      out of: 25
      explanation: Moderate alignment: Swell from 238° is 13° off optimal 225°, workable but not ideal.
    swell size:
      score: 4
      out of: 25
      explanation: Too big: 4.1m exceeds maximum 3.0m. Risk of closeouts.
    swell period:
      score: 6
      out of: 25
      explanation: Moderate period: 12s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
    wind:
      score: 0
      out of: 25
      explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 40 km/h from 248° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
  adjustments:
    wind history:
      adjustment: 0
      groomed: false
      morning sickness: false
      explanation: No significant wind history adjustment.
    windswell penalty:
      adjustment: -5
      windswell degraded: true
      explanation: -5 points: Short-period windswell is present, creating choppy, disorganized conditions.
    secondary swell bonus:
      adjustment: 0
      explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
  summary: Poor conditions at Cactus. Either swell direction (238°), size (4.1m), or wind (40 km/h from 248°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
conditions:
  swell:
    height m: 4.1
    height ft: 13.5
    direction degrees: 238
    direction cardinal: WSW
    period s: 12
    explanation: 4.1m (13.5ft) swell from 238° (WSW) at 12s period
  wind:
    speed kmh: 40
    speed mph: 24.9
    direction degrees: 248
    direction cardinal: WSW
    explanation: 40 km/h (25 mph) from 248° (WSW)
  secondary swell:
    height m: 1.6
    direction degrees: 245
    direction cardinal: WSW
    period s: 11
  windswell:
    height m: 3
    period s: 7
    explanation: Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)

date: 2026-08-10
day index: 5
strike score:
  final score: 4
  category: Poor
  category emoji: 💤
  confidence: 0.86
  confidence explanation: Moderate confidence (4-5 day forecast)
  breakdown:
    swell direction:
      score: 25
      out of: 25
      explanation: Perfect alignment: Swell from 225° is within 5° of optimal 225°.
    swell size:
      score: 3
      out of: 25
      explanation: Too big: 4.4m exceeds maximum 3.0m. Risk of closeouts.
    swell period:
      score: 6
      out of: 25
      explanation: Moderate period: 12s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
    wind:
      score: 0
      out of: 25
      explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 23 km/h from 328° (NNW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
  adjustments:
    wind history:
      adjustment: -10
      groomed: false
      morning sickness: true
      explanation: -10 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
    windswell penalty:
      adjustment: 0
      windswell degraded: false
      explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
    secondary swell bonus:
      adjustment: 0
      explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
  summary: Poor conditions at Cactus. Either swell direction (225°), size (4.4m), or wind (23 km/h from 328°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
conditions:
  swell:
    height m: 4.4
    height ft: 14.4
    direction degrees: 225
    direction cardinal: SW
    period s: 12
    explanation: 4.4m (14.4ft) swell from 225° (SW) at 12s period
  wind:
    speed kmh: 23
    speed mph: 14.3
    direction degrees: 328
    direction cardinal: NNW
    explanation: 23 km/h (14 mph) from 328° (NNW)
  windswell:
    height m: 0.7
    period s: 3
    explanation: Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)

date: 2026-08-11
day index: 6
strike score:
  final score: 1
  category: Poor
  category emoji: 💤
  confidence: 0.83
  confidence explanation: Low confidence (6-7 day forecast)
  breakdown:
    swell direction:
      score: 23
      out of: 25
      explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 223° is 2° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
    swell size:
      score: 4
      out of: 25
      explanation: Too big: 4.1m exceeds maximum 3.0m. Risk of closeouts.
    swell period:
      score: 8
      out of: 25
      explanation: Moderate period: 13s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
    wind:
      score: 0
      out of: 25
      explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 39 km/h from 283° (WNW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
  adjustments:
    wind history:
      adjustment: -17
      groomed: false
      morning sickness: true
      explanation: -17 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
    windswell penalty:
      adjustment: -5
      windswell degraded: true
      explanation: -5 points: Short-period windswell is present, creating choppy, disorganized conditions.
    secondary swell bonus:
      adjustment: 0
      explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
  summary: Poor conditions at Cactus. Either swell direction (223°), size (4.1m), or wind (39 km/h from 283°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
conditions:
  swell:
    height m: 4.1
    height ft: 13.5
    direction degrees: 223
    direction cardinal: SW
    period s: 13
    explanation: 4.1m (13.5ft) swell from 223° (SW) at 13s period
  wind:
    speed kmh: 39
    speed mph: 24.2
    direction degrees: 283
    direction cardinal: WNW
    explanation: 39 km/h (24 mph) from 283° (WNW)
  secondary swell:
    height m: 0.4
    direction degrees: 322
    direction cardinal: NW
    period s: 8
  windswell:
    height m: 3.3
    period s: 7
    explanation: Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)

date: 2026-08-12
day index: 7
strike score:
  final score: 4
  category: Poor
  category emoji: 💤
  confidence: 0.8
  confidence explanation: Low confidence (6-7 day forecast)
  breakdown:
    swell direction:
      score: 24
      out of: 25
      explanation: Perfect alignment: Swell from 226° is within 5° of optimal 225°.
    swell size:
      score: 0
      out of: 25
      explanation: Too big: 6.4m exceeds maximum 3.0m. Risk of closeouts.
    swell period:
      score: 14
      out of: 25
      explanation: Moderate period: 14s meets minimum 12s but below ideal 16s. Some groundswell energy present.
    wind:
      score: 0
      out of: 25
      explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 19 km/h from 260° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
  adjustments:
    wind history:
      adjustment: -21
      groomed: false
      morning sickness: true
      explanation: -21 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
    windswell penalty:
      adjustment: 0
      windswell degraded: false
      explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
    secondary swell bonus:
      adjustment: 0
      explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
  summary: Poor conditions at Cactus. Either swell direction (226°), size (6.4m), or wind (19 km/h from 260°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
conditions:
  swell:
    height m: 6.4
    height ft: 21.0
    direction degrees: 226
    direction cardinal: SW
    period s: 14
    explanation: 6.4m (21.0ft) swell from 226° (SW) at 14s period
  wind:
    speed kmh: 19
    speed mph: 11.8
    direction degrees: 260
    direction cardinal: W
    explanation: 19 km/h (12 mph) from 260° (W)
  windswell:
    height m: 0.6
    period s: 3
    explanation: Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)

date: 2026-08-13
day index: 8
strike score:
  final score: 47
  category: Fair
  category emoji: 😐
  confidence: 0.8
  confidence explanation: Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
  breakdown:
    swell direction:
      score: 20
      out of: 25
      explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 218° is 7° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
    swell size:
      score: 2
      out of: 25
      explanation: Too big: 4.6m exceeds maximum 3.0m. Risk of closeouts.
    swell period:
      score: 25
      out of: 25
      explanation: Perfect period: 18s is at or above ideal 16s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
    wind:
      score: 13
      out of: 25
      explanation: Onshore/cross-shore: 8 km/h from 282° (WNW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 30°-110°.
  adjustments:
    wind history:
      adjustment: -11
      groomed: false
      morning sickness: true
      explanation: -11 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
    windswell penalty:
      adjustment: 0
      windswell degraded: false
      explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
    secondary swell bonus:
      adjustment: 0
      explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
  summary: Surfable but not special at Cactus. The 4.6m swell from 218° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
conditions:
  swell:
    height m: 4.6
    height ft: 15.1
    direction degrees: 218
    direction cardinal: SW
    period s: 18
    explanation: 4.6m (15.1ft) swell from 218° (SW) at 18s period
  wind:
    speed kmh: 8
    speed mph: 5.0
    direction degrees: 282
    direction cardinal: WNW
    explanation: 8 km/h (5 mph) from 282° (WNW)

date: 2026-08-14
day index: 9
strike score:
  final score: 75
  category: Good
  category emoji: ✅
  confidence: 0.8
  confidence explanation: Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
  breakdown:
    swell direction:
      score: 22
      out of: 25
      explanation: Good alignment: Swell from 221° is 4° off optimal 225°, still within prime range.
    swell size:
      score: 23
      out of: 25
      explanation: Good size: 2.6m is within 15% of ideal 2.3m.
    swell period:
      score: 25
      out of: 25
      explanation: Perfect period: 16s is at or above ideal 16s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
    wind:
      score: 19
      out of: 25
      explanation: Light offshore: 9 km/h from 105° (ESE). Grooming the wave face beautifully.
  adjustments:
    wind history:
      adjustment: -4
      groomed: false
      morning sickness: false
      explanation: No significant wind history adjustment.
    windswell penalty:
      adjustment: 0
      windswell degraded: false
      explanation: Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
    secondary swell bonus:
      adjustment: 0
      explanation: No secondary swell bonus.
  summary: Good surfable conditions at Cactus. 2.6m swell from 221° with manageable wind. Solid session guaranteed.
conditions:
  swell:
    height m: 2.6
    height ft: 8.5
    direction degrees: 221
    direction cardinal: SW
    period s: 16
    explanation: 2.6m (8.5ft) swell from 221° (SW) at 16s period
  wind:
    speed kmh: 9
    speed mph: 5.6
    direction degrees: 105
    direction cardinal: ESE
    explanation: 9 km/h (6 mph) from 105° (ESE)

Strike Mission
type: Organization