Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
21.7° C
1.9° 

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 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with 953 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Fri 21st Aug)2ft (0.6m) 13s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 26th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 2AM (Thu 27th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window looking at Cottons Point, and honestly, it’s a bit of a slow burner. The first week or so is pretty frustrating with small, weak swell and a persistent cross-onshore wind messing up the face. The combined energy stays low, mostly sitting between 200 and 500 (weak to moderate), which is just not enough to get excited about. Hold tight, because the real action doesn’t fire until we get into the second week.

Friday the 21st kicks things off with a tiny 2ft SSW swell, but it’s a glassy morning with light offshore wind from the SW, so it’s clean. The problem is the wave energy is only 247 (weak), and it’s described as marginal. It’s not going to be worth paddling out for. The wind goes cross-onshore in the afternoon, and the surf drops to 2ft.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are a write-off. The swell stays between 2ft and 2ft, with a cross-onshore breeze that makes it choppy. The energy is below 300 (weak). Don’t bother.

The whole of the following week – from Monday the 24th through to Thursday the 3rd of September – is a steady run of poor to marginal conditions. The swell is mostly 2ft to 2ft, occasionally bumping up to 3ft or 4ft, but that cross-onshore wind (W or WSW) just won’t let up. The combined energy on the 25th and 26th climbs into the 400s and 900s (moderate), but the wind kills it. On the 27th, the swell hits 5ft from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds, and the energy is 965 (moderate), but again, it’s cross-onshore and lumpy. Not a single standout.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Keep your eyes on Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got a morning window that looks like the best of the entire forecast. The swell is 3ft from the south with a period of 16 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell, which means shape and power. The combined energy jumps to 944 (moderate), and the wind goes glassy – not a breath of air from the SW at 3 mph. That is clean, clean surf. This is a point break, so it should handle that long period beautifully. Saturday morning the 5th then sees the swell jump to 6ft from the south with a 14-second period, and the energy hits 1386 (strong), with a light offshore wind. That’s going to be a punchy, powerful wave, but at 6ft it’s getting a bit big for beginners, and the period is still long, so it’ll be solid. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report.

The first week is a grind, but that Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are the standouts. Don’t sleep on that glassy morning.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
1
2
1
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
13
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SW
19
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
17
0.7
SW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
1.2
S
14
1.4
S
13
1.3
S
13
1.6
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
175
156
137
98
92
167
218
177
155
213
197
179
273
216
171
526
683
563
953
Wind (km/h)
5
S
10
SW
10
WSW
0
SSW
10
WSW
15
W
0
NW
10
WSW
20
WNW
5
NW
10
W
15
W
5
WNW
10
W
10
W
15
SSE
10
S
10
SSW
10
SE
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
8:16AM0.98m
5:05PM1.40m
8:13AM1.05m
6:07PM1.49m
8:24AM1.11m
6:54PM1.59m
8:38AM1.17m
7:31PM1.68m
8:56AM1.23m
8:05PM1.75m
9:16AM1.30m
8:37PM1.78m
Low Tide
00:16AM0.32m
9:51AM0.97m
1:08AM0.21m
11:54AM0.93m
1:45AM0.11m
12:49PM0.84m
2:15AM0.03m
1:27PM0.73m
2:41AM-0.02m
2:01PM0.63m
3:06AM-0.06m
2:35PM0.54m
3:31AM-0.06m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
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>
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
6:18
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:29
7:28
7:27
7:25
7:23
7:22
 mm
Temp °C
23
26
26
24
27
27
25
28
28
25
27
28
25
28
29
25
27
26
24
Feels °C
26
28
27
27
28
27
27
29
28
27
27
27
27
27
28
26
28
27
25
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  • 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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