Cottons Point surfForecast / CAL – Orange County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Friday 29 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cottons Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
17.4° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Cottons Point surf forecast from 29 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 31 May, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 20s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 4 Jun, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 954 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 29 May, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 (May 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s 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 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 04) at 11PM. 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+)11PM (Fri 29th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 31st May)2.5ft (0.7m) 20s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 4th Jun)4.5ft (1.3m) 18s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
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
2
1
0
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.4
SW
23
0.6
SSW
22
0.8
SSW
20
0.8
SSW
20
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
19
1.2
SSW
19
1.3
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
220
173
163
173
131
308
500
490
704
768
751
700
532
519
512
353
283
503
475
943
954
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
20
W
5
SE
10
SW
15
W
5
SSE
10
SW
10
W
5
S
10
SSW
10
SW
5
SE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
S
15
S
10
S
15
SE
15
S
15
SSE
15
SSE
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
9:13AM1.03m
8:18PM1.72m
9:54AM1.02m
8:47PM1.72m
10:34AM1.01m
9:17PM1.70m
11:13AM0.99m
9:48PM1.67m
11:56AM0.98m
10:20PM1.63m
12:41PM0.96m
10:54PM1.56m
1:32PM0.97m
11:32PM1.48m
Low Tide
1:58PM0.58m
3:39AM-0.15m
2:28PM0.63m
4:13AM-0.17m
2:59PM0.67m
4:47AM-0.16m
3:30PM0.70m
5:24AM-0.13m
4:03PM0.73m
6:03AM-0.09m
4:39PM0.77m
6:44AM-0.03m
5:23PM0.80m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:41
5:41
5:41
5:41
5:41
5:41
5:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:52
7:52
7:53
7:53
7:54
7:55
7:55
Temp °C
17
17
16
18
19
17
20
20
19
19
19
17
19
19
17
18
19
17
19
19
17
15
14
14
17
18
17
19
19
20
18
18
17
18
18
17
17
17
17
17
17
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
W
6
0.6
W
7
0.7
W
7
1
W
8
0.8
SSW
20
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
W
7
0.8
W
8
0.9
SSW
18
0.9
W
8
1.2
SSW
19
1.3
SSW
18
Energy kJ
220
173
163
37
32
44
124
490
704
768
751
700
532
519
512
85
72
503
109
943
954
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WNW
16
0.2
WNW
16
0.4
W
6
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
22
0.8
SSW
20
0.8
W
11
0.7
W
7
0.7
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.7
W
6
0.9
SSW
15
0.7
SW
14
0.8
W
10
0.8
SSW
19
0.8
W
8
0.6
W
7
Energy kJ
26
25
10
173
102
308
500
151
43
38
25
18
17
16
35
353
211
116
475
71
34
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
21
0.2
SSW
19
0.2
SSW
19
0.4
SW
23
0.5
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
16
0.5
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
12
0.2
SSW
12
0.2
S
15
0.2
S
15
0.2
S
14
0.3
SSE
15
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SSW
20
0.7
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
16
0.2
S
13
0.3
WNW
10
Energy kJ
9
9
37
35
131
178
103
151
29
13
18
17
16
42
99
154
283
133
314
13
20
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
W
6
0.5
W
6
Energy kJ
11
16
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
1
4
Distance (km)
87
87
3
82
87
4
82
87
87
87
87
3
87
87
0
82
236
4
87
87
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
3
3
4
3
2
4
4
2
4
3
2
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
7
7
6
5
5
4
4
5
8
4
6
5
5
5
5
5
7
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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