Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
21.5° C
2.5° 

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 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, S swell with 1,243 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sat 18th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 18s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 19th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 14s
Most Powerful11AM (Sun 19th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 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 coming down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, we’re not getting any real fun waves at Cottons Point for the first few days. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are a write-off – there's a little 2 ft swell, but it's coming from the south and the wind is cross-onshore, making things choppy and messy. The combined wave energy is weak (224 to 300), so it’s basically flat and bumpy. Not worth paddling out.

Saturday the 18th shows a slight lift. Morning still has that cross-onshore wind with a 3 ft swell, but Saturday afternoon the wind swings to a light onshore, and we get a bit more energy up to 541. It's still marginal, but it’s the first real hint of life. By Sunday the 19th, things get more interesting. We see a 6 ft S swell pushing through with a period of 14 seconds – that's got some punch. The wind is light offshore in the morning, which means clean conditions. The combined energy jumps to 1300, so there’s a proper groundswell in the water. This is the standout window: Sunday morning at Cottons Point. The swell is solid (6 ft) but not out of control, and offshore wind will make for clean, lined-up waves. It’s a reef and point setup, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. It could be a touch big for beginners, but intermediates will have fun. Watch for crowds – it can get busy here sometimes.

From Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd, the swell backs off to around 3 ft to 3 ft. Winds are light, often cross-onshore or offshore, but with energy dropping to the 500-700 range, it’s just marginal. You might find a little cruisey wave, but nothing to get excited about.

Thursday the 23rd sees the swell build again to 5 ft from the south, with a period of 13-14 seconds. The morning is messy with a cross-onshore wind, but Thursday afternoon the wind lightens up, and combined energy hits 1072. Still a bit on the rough side, but it’s building towards the real prize.

And that prize is the weekend – Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th. This is the other big standout. On Friday, we’ve got 6 ft S swell with light offshore wind and a combined energy of 1806. That’s a lot of water moving. The period is 14 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. Cottons Point will handle that beautifully, but it’s definitely expert territory at over 5 ft. Saturday is similar: 6 ft SSW swell, light cross-onshore in the morning and offshore in the afternoon, with energy peaks at 2044. Big, clean, powerful surf. This is for experienced surfers only. Again, expect it to be popular.

After that, the swell drops a bit Sunday the 26th through the end of the month, with 3 ft to 4 ft waves and mostly light winds, but the energy stays in the 980 to 1300 range. It’ll be cleaner but smaller. The last few days of July and into the 31st see the swell fade to around 3 ft to 3 ft, with light offshore winds again, but the energy drops to below 700. It’ll be a quiet end to the month.

So, to wrap it up: the real gems are Sunday morning, July 19th with clean 6 ft S swell, and Friday, July 24th through Saturday, July 25th for the biggest, most powerful surf of the window. If you're an intermediate, aim for the 19th. Experts, you’ll want the 24th and 25th.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
3
2
4
1
2
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.4
SW
19
0.5
SW
19
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
1
S
16
1.8
S
14
1.8
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
161
122
122
125
181
103
136
366
379
503
1243
1179
1089
377
358
334
519
474
474
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
S
15
S
15
SE
20
S
15
S
10
SE
15
SSW
10
SW
5
SSE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
SE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
S
10
SSW
10
W
5
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
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
3:09AM0.93m
3:42PM1.45m
Low Tide
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
9:43PM0.52m
8:31AM0.55m
11:24PM0.42m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
8:00
8:00
7:59
7:59
7:58
7:57
 mm
Temp °C
23
24
25
21
23
23
21
23
22
20
23
23
21
23
23
22
24
24
23
Feels °C
24
24
25
21
23
22
21
23
22
22
24
23
22
23
22
23
24
24
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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