Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s 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 (Sep 12) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2AM. 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 12th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down what’s comin’ in feet and miles per hour.
Honestly, the first week or so is pretty flat. We’re lookin’ at small SW swells runnin’ 1 ft to 2 ft, with wind mostly side-on or straight onshore. The combined energy is weak to moderate—between 265 and 289—so there’s just not a lot of push. It’s the kind of stretch where you might be better off cleanin’ the garage.
Things start to perk up a little around Wednesday the 18th of September. The swell ticks to 2 ft, but the wind’s still a factor from the west. That SW groundswell has a period of 19 seconds (very long), so it’s got some push, but at a beachy spot it’ll run straight and won’t offer much shape.
The real window—the one to circle on your calendar—is Sunday the 22nd of September. The swell holds steady at 3 ft from the SW, with a 18-second period, and the wind goes light offshore from the SW. That’s smooth, glassy conditions. The combined energy climbs to 582 and 613, so there’s some decent grunt there. Cottons Point is a reef and point, so it’ll handle that long-period swell well, offering proper, wrappin’ waves. Just a heads up, crowds can be “sometimes” there, so it might be a bit social, but the quality will be worth it.
Water temp’s pretty normal for this time of year, nothin’ extreme.
After that, the swell fades back to 2 ft with onshore winds returnin’ by the end of the month. So don’t miss that Sunday—it’s the best call of the whole outlook.
-Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | W 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 309 | 211 | 164 | 160 | 89 | 130 | 149 | 108 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 127 | 113 | 386 | 343 | 402 | 284 | 246 | 239 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:50PM1.71m | 10:15AM1.70m | 10:31PM1.55m | 10:44AM1.70m | 11:13PM1.36m | 11:11AM1.66m | 11:59PM1.17m | 11:38AM1.58m | 00:58AM0.99m | 12:07PM1.48m | 2:45AM0.87m | 12:46PM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:08AM0.08m | 4:33PM0.14m | 4:33AM0.24m | 5:15PM0.16m | 4:56AM0.41m | 5:59PM0.22m | 5:16AM0.57m | 6:51PM0.30m | 5:28AM0.72m | 8:00PM0.38m | 5:12AM0.84m | 9:44PM0.41m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 309 | 211 | 164 | 35 | 78 | 61 | 149 | 94 | 52 | 32 | 161 | 122 | 88 | 386 | 343 | 402 | 284 | 246 | 239 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 17 | 25 | 24 | 160 | 89 | 87 | 129 | 108 | 150 | 190 | 18 | 40 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 93 | 46 | 71 | 57 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 9 | W 4 |
| kJ | 16 | 29 | 29 | 14 | 58 | 130 | 84 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 127 | 113 | 14 | 20 | 48 | 50 | 27 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | W 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 82 | 87 | 0 | 65 | 87 | 4 | 82 | 87 | 4 | 82 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 11 |
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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