Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
24.2° C
4.7° 

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 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 TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 3rd Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 6th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 13s
Most Powerful11PM (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 Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
19
0.6
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy 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)
10
W
15
WSW
5
S
10
SW
10
SW
0
N
10
WSW
10
SW
0
S
10
SW
10
SW
5
S
15
SSW
10
SW
10
S
15
S
10
WSW
10
SSE
10
SSW
10
SSW
10
SE
Wind State
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
clear
clear
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>
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
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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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