Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with 788 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s 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 (Aug 29) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM. 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+) | 8PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Cottons Point are a mixed bag, and you’ve gotta pick your moments. The water is sitting at a very unusual 75°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit.
We start off this Saturday, August 29, with a bit of swell at 3.6ft from the SSW, with a long period of 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is a moderate 742, and the wind is a light cross-onshore at 6 mph. It’s not clean, but it’s rideable. The morning is the better call. The afternoon gets a bit more wind (9 mph cross-onshore), and it gets choppier. This is only for intermediates – too weak for anything special.
Sunday the 30th is pretty ordinary. Swell drops and the wind stays cross-onshore. The morning is a write-off with poor surf conditions. The afternoon sees the wind switch onshore, still 3.6ft, but it’s marginal. Don’t rush out.
Monday the 31st has a drop to 3.0ft from the SSW, period dropping to 14 seconds. The morning is onshore, 543 combined energy, and it’s marginal. The afternoon is poor with cross-onshore chop. Save your energy.
Tuesday September 1 is small, 2.3ft, 13-second period, and only 314 combined energy. The wind is light cross-onshore in the morning, so it’s tiny and weak. The afternoon picks up a bit to 3.3ft but with cross-shore breezes and chop. Not great.
Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are more of the same – 3.6ft to 4.3ft swells, but the wind is always cross-onshore or onshore. Thursday afternoon does have a nice 16-second period on 3.0ft, with 903 combined energy, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. It’s frustrating because the swell quality is there, but the wind ruins it.
Friday September 4 and Saturday September 5 are still marginal. The swell sticks around 3.6ft from the SSW, long period up to 17 seconds, but winds are moderate and onshore or cross-onshore. Some light wind windows on Saturday afternoon could give you a few cleanish ones, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Now, finally, Sunday September 6 looks a bit better. The morning has a glassy 3.3ft from the SSW, 15-second period, with 636 energy and light SW winds. The afternoon is onshore but light. This is the first proper session window – not huge, but clean and fun for an intermediate. The water is still unusually warm.
Monday September 7 sees a jump in size: 4.9ft in the morning and 5.6ft in the afternoon from the S, 14-second period, and the combined energy goes up to 878 and then 1112 (moderate to strong). The wind is cross-onshore though, so it’s a bit lumpy. The afternoon has decent power but expect some chop. This is getting into the bigger range for intermediates.
Here’s the standout: Tuesday September 8. The morning sees 7.9ft from the SSW, 13-second period, and a strong combined energy of 1930. The afternoon pumps up to 11.5ft from the SSW, 12-second period, with a whopping 3123 combined energy – that’s very strong. Wind is cross-onshore at 6-9 mph, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but this is big, powerful groundswell. For experts only in the afternoon – 11.5ft is serious. If you’re experienced and looking for a challenge, this is the day. The long period (13 seconds) means better shape, but at a point and reef break like Cottons, it should handle the size. Crowds are possible here (listed as “sometimes”), so be ready for company if it’s firing.
Wednesday September 9 drops back to 5.6ft in the morning but with a short period of only 8 seconds – that’s weak, choppy windswell. Combined energy 698. The afternoon is even smaller and messy. Not worth it.
From Thursday September 10 through to Saturday September 12, the swell fades to 2.0ft to 3.0ft, with periods of 14-17 seconds, but the combined energy is weak (225 to 389) and the wind is cross-onshore or onshore. It’s poor to marginal – save your time.
Then, on Sunday September 13, we get a small window of hope. The morning is glassy – wind from the north at 3 mph, dead calm, with 3.0ft from the SSW, 12-second period, and 370 combined energy. It says “expect good surf conditions.” It’s tiny, but it’ll be clean and fun for a longboard or a soft-top. The afternoon gets wrecked by 12 mph cross-onshore
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
692 | 627 | 759 | 537 | 478 | 389 | 253 | 235 | 157 | 149 | 205 | 180 | 323 | 261 | 281 | 256 | 444 | 651 | 543 | 667 | 620 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:26AM1.52m | 10:18PM1.61m | 10:52AM1.58m | 10:57PM1.45m | 11:20AM1.62m | 11:42PM1.26m | 11:53AM1.63m | 00:41AM1.06m | 12:34PM1.62m | 2:20AM0.88m | 1:34PM1.57m | 5:35AM0.88m | 3:06PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:23PM0.33m | 4:43AM0.13m | 5:04PM0.29m | 5:06AM0.26m | 5:52PM0.28m | 5:29AM0.41m | 6:51PM0.30m | 5:52AM0.58m | 8:11PM0.32m | 6:14AM0.73m | 9:57PM0.27m | 6:35AM0.88m | 11:34PM0.14m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
692 | 627 | 759 | 537 | 478 | 99 | 253 | 235 | 157 | 149 | 205 | 180 | 323 | 237 | 250 | 256 | 190 | 651 | 543 | 667 | 620 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 |
30 | 28 | 80 | 120 | 89 | 389 | 212 | 158 | 156 | 118 | 80 | 16 | 22 | 261 | 281 | 38 | 444 | 174 | 185 | 123 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SW 12 | S 8 | SSE 13 | S 12 | SSE 12 | W 7 | SSW 19 | W 5 | W 6 | W 10 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | W 5 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 |
21 | 37 | 10 | 33 | 44 | 46 | 55 | 35 | 20 | 15 | 2 | 152 | 132 | 35 | 19 | 186 | 54 | 50 | 38 | 27 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | 13 | — | — | 21 | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 142 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 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.











