Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 481 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. 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 Sunday (Aug 09) 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+) | 11PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here again, giving you the same story in feet and Fahrenheit.
Looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a tough stretch for Cottons Point. We’ve got a constant stream of SSW and SW swell, but it’s mostly small and the wind is never quite perfect. The water is running at a very warm 76°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit, but the waves are the problem.
The pattern starts quiet. Thursday the 6th of August through the first weekend sees tiny waves, only 2ft to 3ft. The energy is weak to moderate, with the combined swell energy reading between 141 and 445. The wind is a real killer here – it’s either onshore or cross-onshore, chopping up what little swell there is. It’s just poor surf conditions day after day.
There’s a slight shift around Sunday the 9th of August afternoon. The wind goes light and onshore, and the swell ticks up to 3ft with a 15-second period, which is a nice long groundswell. The energy jumps to 411 (moderate), but it’s only rated as marginal. It’s the best of a bad bunch early on, but still not a standout.
The real glimmer in this forecast comes much later, around the 14th and 15th of August. Friday the 14th of August morning sees the smallest swell, 2ft, but the period is a very long 18 seconds, and the energy is strong at 626. The wind is light and onshore. By Friday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 3ft with the same 18-second period, and the energy is very strong at 807. Saturday the 15th of August morning follows with a solid 3ft, 16-second groundswell, and energy still strong at 633. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s not glassy but it’s rideable. This is the best on offer – a long-period groundswell that will wrap around the point. Keep in mind, with a period that long, it can get a bit straight at a beach break, but Cottons is a reef and point setup, so it should handle it nicely. The waves won’t be big, but the quality will be there.
After that, it fades back into the same pattern of small, messy swell through the second week. A few more marginal windows pop up around the 20th and 21st of August, but nothing to get excited about. Overall, this is a long, quiet period. The surf is small and mostly poor. If you’re desperate, target the 14th and 15th of August for the best chance at a clean, long-period wave at Cottons Point.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 113 | 114 | 126 | 329 | 243 | 348 | 344 | 295 | 481 | 309 | 305 | 301 | 207 | 186 | 184 | 131 | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:33PM1.57m | 6:25AM0.88m | 4:49PM1.67m | 7:33AM1.00m | 5:58PM1.80m | 8:13AM1.11m | 6:57PM1.93m | 8:47AM1.21m | 7:49PM2.03m | 9:21AM1.31m | 8:37PM2.07m | 9:55AM1.40m | 9:22PM2.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:44PM0.22m | 9:36AM0.82m | 00:51AM0.02m | 11:25AM0.83m | 1:42AM-0.16m | 12:41PM0.74m | 2:27AM-0.29m | 1:39PM0.62m | 3:07AM-0.35m | 2:30PM0.50m | 3:44AM-0.35m | 3:17PM0.40m | 4:19AM-0.29m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 21 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 113 | 114 | 84 | 329 | 111 | 348 | 344 | 295 | 481 | 309 | 305 | 301 | 207 | 139 | 137 | 131 | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | W 4 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 15 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 79 | 126 | 114 | 243 | 124 | 94 | 114 | 83 | 3 | 30 | 42 | 106 | 186 | 184 | 75 | 73 | 46 | 44 | 61 | 44 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | W 13 | W 4 | W 4 | W 12 | W 15 | W 14 | W 12 | W 4 | W 13 | SW 21 | SW 21 | W 12 | SW 16 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 25 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 72 | 71 | 3 | 39 | 25 | 51 | 103 | 44 | 44 | 40 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | — | — | W 4 | — | W 4 | — | — | — | W 4 | — | WSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 7 | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
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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