
Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with 813 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period with S 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. 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 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) 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 (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real here. The forecast for Cottons Point is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window that starts with a bit of a surf tease on Thursday afternoon, July 30th, but it’s really not worth getting excited about.
The first pulse of swell shows up on the 30th with a 3ft SSW swell. It’s got some decent period at 15 seconds, which is a proper groundswell, and that’s a good thing. But the wind is coming from the WSW at 6 mph, which puts it right on the nose—cross-on. That’s going to mess with the shape. The water is a wild 74°, which is a huge 7° above normal for this time of year, so it’s feeling like a bath out there. The combined energy is moderate (683), but the wave comment says it all: “marginal surf forecast.” This is the best the whole window has to offer, and it’s a 1 out of 10 scenario. It’s not a standout in any way, really just a heads-up that something’s happening.
From Friday morning, July 31st, into Saturday, August 1st, the swell drops. Friday morning has a 4ft SSW swell (646 energy), but it’s still a “marginal” call, and by Saturday afternoon we’re down to 3ft and the comment changes to “poor surf conditions.” The wind stays light and mostly offshore, which would normally be a huge plus, but the swell is just too weak and inconsistent to make anything of it.
After that, from Sunday, August 2nd, all the way through to the end of the forecast on August 14th, the outlook is grim. The swell heights hover between 1ft and 3ft, the period bounces around, and the wind is a constant mix of light offshore or light cross-on. The combined energy drops into the low hundreds (124 to 199), and every single day from August 2nd onwards gets slapped with “poor surf conditions.” There’s a glimmer of a longer period swell on the 7th with a 19-second period (454 energy), but it’s a tiny 2ft, so it’s just not enough to push through. The first week of August is a total write-off.
The second week (from August 7th onward) has a few small pulses from the SSW with decent periods, but the heights stay under 3ft and the wind stays irritatingly cross-on. There’s a bit of a shift on August 13th where the wind goes cross-shore (WNW at 9 mph), but the swell is only 3ft, and the comment is still “marginal.” It’s not going to save the week.
Honestly, there’s no standout session here. The only possible time to get wet is that Thursday afternoon, July 30th, but you’d be fighting a cross-on wind for a 3ft wave that’s barely breaking. It’s a real bummer, but that’s the forecast. The break is consistent, but the swell just isn’t cooperating. It’s a reef and point setup, so it can handle bigger swells, but we’re not getting them. For a beginner, this is all too small, and for an expert, there’s nothing to ride. If you’re a kite surfer, the light wind might be a chuckle, but for a paddle, it’s a no-go.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
468 | 674 | 588 | 322 | 261 | 173 | 289 | 119 | 91 | 88 | 83 | 80 | 91 | 91 | 84 | 77 | 75 | 162 | 127 | 125 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:59PM1.76m | 11:17AM1.29m | 10:31PM1.68m | 11:45AM1.34m | 11:06PM1.55m | 12:14PM1.39m | 11:46PM1.37m | 12:48PM1.44m | 00:36AM1.16m | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:54AM0.95m | 2:22PM1.52m | 4:05AM0.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:58PM0.58m | 5:03AM-0.09m | 4:35PM0.55m | 5:29AM-0.02m | 5:17PM0.54m | 5:54AM0.09m | 6:05PM0.53m | 6:19AM0.23m | 7:05PM0.52m | 6:45AM0.38m | 8:25PM0.49m | 7:15AM0.55m | 10:07PM0.40m | |||||||
— | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
7:51 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
468 | 674 | 588 | 322 | 261 | 173 | 289 | 72 | 33 | 23 | 37 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 75 | 162 | 127 | 125 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | W 5 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | W 7 | W 7 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 |
202 | 5 | 44 | 146 | 69 | 35 | 33 | 119 | 75 | 75 | 83 | 80 | 83 | 54 | 84 | 77 | 12 | 11 | 26 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
2 | — | 14 | 39 | 14 | 39 | 77 | 88 | 91 | 88 | 47 | 23 | 91 | 91 | 22 | 36 | 41 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 21 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
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.











