Surf Forecasts:
Cortez Bank surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, S swell with 5,521 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cortez Bank this week:
The surf forecast for Cortez Bank over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cortez Bank in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.5m 12s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cortez Bank over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Sun night, min 18°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 10 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | NW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
116 | 127 | 150 | 213 | 177 | 323 | 216 | 659 | 644 | 735 | 818 | 604 | 512 | 506 | 353 | 339 | 4484 | 5515 | 3314 | 176 | 1082 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 12:09PM1.89m | 1:03AM1.26m | 12:52PM1.89m | 2:53AM1.11m | 1:52PM1.87m | 3:17PM1.87m | 7:29AM1.27m | 4:48PM1.92m | 7:50AM1.38m | 6:03PM2.02m | 8:15AM1.49m | 7:02PM2.10m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:10PM0.61m | 5:56AM0.89m | 8:34PM0.61m | 6:16AM1.03m | 10:19PM0.54m | 11:46PM0.40m | 9:53AM1.23m | 00:47AM0.26m | 11:47AM1.16m | 1:33AM0.15m | 12:55PM1.01m | 2:13AM0.09m | |||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 10 |
150 | 127 | 60 | 213 | 114 | 186 | 186 | 659 | 515 | 779 | 1283 | 1396 | 1454 | 1902 | 2173 | 3650 | 4484 | 5515 | 3314 | 7111 | 963 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | NW 12 | NW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 14 |
116 | 98 | 123 | 177 | 125 | 323 | 80 | 103 | 644 | 735 | 818 | 546 | 384 | 506 | 353 | 339 | 212 | 179 | 96 | 176 | 160 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 8 | SSW 16 | NW 10 | SSW 20 | SE 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 10 | SW 10 | NW 10 | SW 10 | NW 9 | SW 19 | — | SW 18 |
38 | 80 | 150 | 36 | 177 | 37 | 216 | 129 | 113 | 78 | 76 | 604 | 512 | 38 | 16 | 74 | 16 | 52 | 55 | — | 81 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 12 | — | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | — | NNW 6 | NE 5 | SSE 12 | WNW 8 |
84 | 89 | 115 | 96 | 123 | 132 | 96 | 74 | 151 | 300 | 273 | 396 | — | 364 | 284 | 293 | — | 110 | 71 | 8107 | 1082 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 179 | 179 | 164 | 124 | 179 | 177 | 167 | 179 | 165 | 124 | 179 | 163 | 124 | 169 | 124 | 163 | 124 | 163 | 163 | 179 | 124 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cortez Bank Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cortez Bank provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cortez Bank can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cortez Bank surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Cortez Bank) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Cortez Bank may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Cortez Bank is 130 km (81 miles) from Catalina Island. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Catalina Island. Catalina Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











