Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 487 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Cottons Point over the next couple of weeks.
Well, I gotta be straight with you, it's a pretty grim stretch ahead. There's a big, long gap of nothing but poor conditions right through the first week of August. From Monday the 3rd all the way through to late on Saturday the 8th, it's just messy. Onshore winds, mostly from the SW, and waves are tiny, barely 2 ft to 3 ft. The energy is all over the place, but mostly weak to moderate. The wind is cross-on or straight on, just chopping everything up. It's a write-off.
Things start to show a tiny pulse of life on the 8th of August in the afternoon. The waves are still small at 3 ft from the SSW, but the wind goes light and onshore, making it clean. The energy is solid, but it's still labeled as marginal. Not something to get too excited about.
The real standout, and honestly the only thing worth circling on the calendar, is Monday the 17th of August, in the afternoon. We get a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW at 6 mph, and that's a major positive. The forecast says "expect good surf conditions" for the first time. The swell is a modest 2 ft from the SSW, but it's riding a very long 15-second period, which will bring some real shape and power. The combined energy is strong. It's not a big day, but with that clean, glassy wind and long-period groundswell, Cottons Point will be running smooth. Keep in mind the water is much warmer than usual for this time of year, coming in at 76°.
The following day, Tuesday the 18th, is a no-go. The wind swings back to a cross-on W, and the swell drops to a short-period 4 ft from the W at 8 seconds. That's weak and choppy.
So, the only true standout is that Monday afternoon, the 17th. It's a ways off, so don't lock it in, but it's the one window where everything aligns. Other than that, it's a whole lot of waiting.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 80 | 91 | 91 | 85 | 107 | 75 | 162 | 127 | 160 | 113 | 114 | 126 | 329 | 243 | 348 | 344 | 295 | 481 | 411 | 305 | 297 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross |
High Tide | 12:48PM1.44m | 00:36AM1.16m | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:54AM0.95m | 2:22PM1.52m | 4:05AM0.83m | 3:33PM1.57m | 6:25AM0.88m | 4:49PM1.67m | 7:33AM1.00m | 5:58PM1.80m | 8:13AM1.11m | 6:57PM1.93m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:05PM0.52m | 6:45AM0.38m | 8:25PM0.49m | 7:15AM0.55m | 10:07PM0.40m | 7:58AM0.70m | 11:44PM0.22m | 9:36AM0.82m | 00:51AM0.02m | 11:25AM0.83m | 1:42AM-0.16m | 12:41PM0.74m | 2:27AM-0.29m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 25 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SW 13 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 16 | 83 | 15 | 85 | 107 | 11 | 162 | 127 | 160 | 113 | 114 | 84 | 329 | 111 | 348 | 344 | 295 | 481 | 411 | 305 | 297 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | W 5 | SW 12 | SW 15 | W 5 | SW 12 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | W 13 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 80 | 91 | 54 | 14 | 36 | 75 | 7 | 34 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 126 | 114 | 243 | 103 | 69 | 94 | 72 | 13 | 42 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | S 10 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SSW 20 | W 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | W 15 | SSW 9 | W 12 | SSW 8 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 21 |
| kJ | 23 | 23 | 91 | 58 | 8 | 40 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 79 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 72 | 71 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 16 | — | — | 15 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 33 | 65 | 87 | 82 | 82 | 87 | 65 | 65 | 135 | 4 |
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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