Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
24.5°C
4.7° 

Cottons Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cottons Point surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, SSW swell with 1,776 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cottons Point this week:

The surf forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cottons Point in the next 16 days are 2.1m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Fri 4th Sep)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 6th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 15s
Most Powerful 5AM (Mon 7th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking over the numbers for the next couple of weeks at Cottons Point. To be honest, the start of this run is a bit of a letdown. We’ve got some solid energy in the water – a decent long-period SSW groundswell (over 15 seconds) – but the wind just won’t play ball. It’s mostly a cross-onshore mess, keeping the surface choppy and frustrating. The water is much warmer than normal for early September at 76°, almost 9° above the usual, which is a wild anomaly.

Thursday 3rd September is a write-off. There’s a 3 ft swell from the SSW (18s period, 534 energy) but with that cross-on breeze, it’s just bumpy and hard to read. We slide through Friday and Saturday with the swell building but the wind staying in that crappy cross-on slot, spiking the energy up to 1217 by Saturday arvo but still leaving it rough.

Now, Sunday 6th September is where it gets interesting. Sunday morning is still a bit messy with 6 ft of S swell, but by the afternoon, the wind swings around to a light NNW cross-offshore. That’s the key. The swell drops just a touch to 6 ft (13s period, 1328 energy). That’s a wave with some grunt, and with those clean conditions, it’s your standout window. It’s not huge, but for an intermediate surfer, that Sunday afternoon session is the pick of the forecast. Just be aware, with a period of 13 seconds, it’s a true groundswell – sets will be a bit more spaced out, but the shape should be good on the reef and point at Cottons. Crowds are always a possibility here, so get on it early.

Monday 7th through Wednesday 9th sees the swell hold around 6 ft to 7 ft but the wind is back cross-on, ruining the quality. By Thursday 10th, we’re dropping down into the 3 ft range, and the wind still isn't helping. For the rest of the second week, from around 11th September onward, it gets really small and weak. We’re looking at 1 ft to 3 ft swells with energy dropping to around 200 and 300. The periods get long again (16s-22s) but there's just no power behind them. It's a long, flat spell after that Sunday. There’s a faint glimmer of cleaner wind and a tiny 2 ft SSW swell on the 18th, but it’s too small to get excited about.

So, to sum it up: bite the bullet on the early days if you’re desperate, but your one true standout is Sunday 6th September afternoon. Get out there for the cleanest, most powerful waves of the whole run.

That’s my read. Catchya in the water.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
1
1
3
1
2
3
3
4
3
2
2
4
2
1
3
2
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.3
S
14
1.2
SSW
16
1.9
S
14
1.9
S
13
1.3
SSW
15
2
SSW
14
2
SSW
14
2
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
13
1.9
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
12
1.4
SSW
11
1.3
SSW
11
0.8
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
399
651
587
559
620
512
607
696
1442
1303
724
1505
1440
1444
1137
1226
871
483
411
346
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
5
SE
10
SSW
15
WSW
0
NE
10
W
10
WSW
5
NW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
NW
15
W
15
WNW
5
NW
10
W
20
WNW
5
WNW
10
W
15
WNW
5
S
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:35AM0.88m
3:06PM1.55m
6:58AM1.01m
4:42PM1.62m
7:24AM1.14m
5:56PM1.74m
7:51AM1.26m
6:54PM1.85m
8:19AM1.38m
7:43PM1.91m
8:47AM1.49m
8:28PM1.91m
Low Tide
9:57PM0.27m
6:35AM0.88m
11:34PM0.14m
10:07AM0.94m
00:38AM-0.01m
11:51AM0.84m
1:25AM-0.13m
12:54PM0.67m
2:04AM-0.19m
1:43PM0.49m
2:39AM-0.20m
2:28PM0.34m
3:11AM-0.15m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:28
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:13
7:12
7:09
7:08
7:07
7:06
7:05
 mm
1
Temp °C
22
19
22
22
21
24
25
22
24
26
24
26
26
24
25
26
24
27
27
24
Feels °C
21
20
22
21
22
23
24
22
24
26
22
25
24
24
24
24
23
26
25
25
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Cottons Point Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Cottons Point provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cottons Point can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cottons Point 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 (Cottons Point) 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 Cottons Point 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.

Cottons Point is 5 km (3 miles) from San Clemente. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Clemente. San Clemente has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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