Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
23.6° C
4.1° 

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 31 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period, S swell with 674 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m 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 1.3m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Most Powerful 8AM (Fri 31st Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I’ll be honest with you, it’s a pretty grim stretch for Cottons Point. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out period of small, weak surf that’s not really going to get the heart pumping. The first real chance to get wet comes on Friday morning, the 31st of July, but it’s a marginal call. A 4 ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds, is pumping in moderate energy (646), but the wind is cross-onshore at 6 mph, messing up the surface. The water temp is about average for this time of year, but it’s not going to make up for the messy conditions. That afternoon, the swell drops to 3 ft, the wind picks up to 9 mph, and it gets choppy. Not worth paddling out for.

From the 1st of August all the way through the 15th of August, it’s a desert. The swell stays tiny, mostly bouncing between 1 ft and 3 ft, with poor surf conditions flagged every single session. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore almost the whole time, and the energy is low, with values like 143 and 122. There’s a brief moment on the 12th of August afternoon where the swell bumps up to 3 ft with a period of 17 seconds and moderate energy (591), but it’s still cross-onshore and marginal. Honestly, this setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is that Friday morning the 31st of July. It’s the biggest swell of the window at 4 ft, and the period is a nice 14 seconds, which is proper groundswell. But the wind is cross-onshore, so you’ll be dealing with ripples. If you’re desperate, you might get a couple of clean ones, but don’t expect much. Everything else is a write-off.

For a spot that’s consistent, it’s unusual to see such a blank run. Forecasts can change, though, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
1
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
S
14
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.6
S
13
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
674
588
322
261
173
289
119
91
88
83
82
91
91
84
77
75
162
127
125
Wind (km/h)
5
SSE
10
WSW
15
W
5
SW
10
SW
10
SSW
5
SSE
10
SSW
10
SW
5
SSE
10
SW
10
SW
5
SSE
15
SSW
10
SSW
5
SSW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
WNW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
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
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:51
7:50
7:49
7:47
7:46
7:45
 mm
Temp °C
21
25
26
23
26
26
24
25
26
23
25
26
22
24
24
22
24
25
23
Feels °C
23
26
26
25
27
26
25
26
27
25
26
26
24
24
24
24
24
25
24
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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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