Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 645 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period with SW 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. 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 1.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey crew, Rusty checkin' in. It's a one-break show for this outlook: Cottons Point.
The first week is a real slow one. From Tuesday the 14th through the 18th, the surf is flat to ankle-snapping. We're talkin' 0.3 to 0.5 ft of slop with a persistent cross-onshore breeze making everything choppy and messy. Don't bother.
Things perk up from Sunday the 19th through the next week, with the swell slowly building to around 3 to 4 ft. The wind gets lighter, with some cleaner windows, but it's still marginal. You'll get some grovelly waves.
The big news is later on. Wednesday the 22nd sees a solid south swell jump up to 5 to 5 ft, with a long 15-16 second period. The combined energy gets strong, hittin' those higher numbers. It's on.
The real standout is Thursday the 23rd of July. We're lookin' at a powerful 7 ft to 7 ft south swell, with that same long period. The combined energy is cookin' in the strong range. The wind is forecast light and offshore, so it should be glassy. For a reef and point setup like Cottons, this long-period groundswell is prime. It's expert territory at that size, but for anyone who can handle it, that's the session to circle on the calendar. It stays solid through the 25th before fading.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Mon 20 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 213 | 133 | 111 | 194 | 107 | 96 | 161 | 122 | 122 | 125 | 181 | 83 | 136 | 366 | 311 | 350 | 480 | 429 | 430 | 409 | 396 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:43PM2.11m | 10:25AM1.23m | 9:32PM2.10m | 11:06AM1.29m | 10:19PM2.02m | 11:47AM1.34m | 11:06PM1.86m | 12:29PM1.38m | 11:54PM1.64m | 1:12PM1.41m | 00:44AM1.39m | 1:58PM1.43m | 1:45AM1.14m | 2:48PM1.44m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:07AM-0.47m | 3:20PM0.54m | 4:49AM-0.44m | 4:12PM0.50m | 5:29AM-0.35m | 5:04PM0.49m | 6:07AM-0.21m | 5:59PM0.50m | 6:44AM-0.03m | 7:01PM0.53m | 7:19AM0.16m | 8:13PM0.55m | 7:54AM0.37m | ||||||||
 | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
 | 8:00 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 7 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 213 | 133 | 93 | 133 | 95 | 30 | 47 | 97 | 86 | 55 | 54 | 55 | 136 | 366 | 311 | 350 | 480 | 403 | 271 | 198 | 396 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | WSW 7 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 133 | 76 | 111 | 194 | 15 | 83 | 161 | 122 | 122 | 107 | 181 | 74 | 26 | 68 | 66 | 93 | 338 | 429 | 430 | 409 | 264 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 19 | S 12 | W 4 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 11 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 13 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | W 4 | W 5 | SSW 20 |
| kJ | 25 | 58 | 47 | 6 | 107 | 96 | 73 | 48 | 47 | 125 | 74 | 83 | 40 | 12 | 12 | 44 | 45 | 42 | 3 | 8 | 75 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | — | — | W 5 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 87 | 65 | 87 | 82 | 30 | 87 | 90 | 4 | 67 | 87 | 4 | 82 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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