Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 394 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s. 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 1.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 8AM. 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 (Sat 11th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the surf. It’s been a slow start, so let’s break it down.
Up at Cottons Point, a reef and point break, it’s been a pretty quiet run. Water temp is about 68°, which is normal for the season, so no worries there.
Right now, Saturday the 11th, it’s not happening. The swell is a weak 3ft from the SSW, but the wind is cross-on from the south, and the energy is moderate (394). The report says it’s marginal with questionable tides. I’d skip it.
Sunday the 12th through Tuesday the 15th is a real slow spell. Swell is tiny—3ft down to 1ft—with onshore or cross-on wind. The energy is weak to moderate (220 to 496), and conditions are poor. That’s about 4 days of nothing.
The first real highlight hits on Thursday the 23rd afternoon. The wind goes glassy with a light breeze from the northwest, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” The swell is 3ft from the SSW, with moderate energy (272). That’s the cleanest window of the whole stretch. The break is consistent, but crowds can show up sometimes, so be ready.
Then, into the second week, Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th, the swell comes up. We see 3ft to 4ft from the SW, with a long period of 19 to 21 seconds, and the energy gets strong (up to 970). The wind is light onshore or cross-on, but on Sunday the 26th afternoon, it goes light cross-off from the ESE, and the report says “expect very good surf conditions” with clean waves. That’s another standout. The swell direction is SSW, close to the optimum SW, and with that long period, the point will handle it well.
So, your best calls are the glassy Thursday the 23rd afternoon, and the cleaner Sunday the 26th afternoon. The rest is flat or messy. Pick your moments.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | 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 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 358 | 236 | 316 | 352 | 303 | 312 | 176 | 213 | 123 | 111 | 194 | 107 | 96 | 161 | 122 | 122 | 125 | 181 | 83 | 136 | 366 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 7:01PM1.95m | 9:01AM1.10m | 7:53PM2.06m | 9:44AM1.17m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:38AM-0.33m | 1:33PM0.66m | 3:23AM-0.44m | 2:28PM0.60m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 |
 | 8:01 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | 7:59 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 358 | 236 | 316 | 352 | 303 | 312 | 176 | 213 | 123 | 93 | 133 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 98 | 95 | 40 | 41 | 27 | 136 | 366 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SW 21 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 7 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 6 | 153 | 68 | 113 | 62 | 18 | 120 | 133 | 72 | 111 | 194 | 65 | 83 | 161 | 122 | 122 | 107 | 181 | 74 | 14 | 44 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 21 | S 16 | SW 18 | SW 19 | S 12 | SW 19 | S 12 | W 4 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 11 | S 12 |
| kJ | 30 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 46 | 12 | 59 | 25 | 58 | 47 | 3 | 107 | 96 | 48 | 48 | 47 | 125 | 74 | 83 | 22 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 0 | 136 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 82 | 82 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 87 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 1 | 65 | 65 | 21 | 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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