Cottons Point surfForecast / CAL – Orange County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 am Friday 01 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
17.2° C
(Which is 1.5°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 (May 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s 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 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 06) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sat 2nd May)1ft (0.3m) 13s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 6th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s
Most Powerful 8AM (Wed 6th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s

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. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
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
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
W
7
0.3
SW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.2
SSW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
44
28
31
31
30
65
66
85
84
156
102
171
144
142
236
251
191
134
136
100
88
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
W
10
WSW
10
W
0
WNW
15
SSW
15
WSW
15
WNW
15
WNW
15
WSW
15
WNW
20
W
20
W
5
WNW
10
WSW
15
W
10
NW
10
W
15
WNW
5
S
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
9:50AM1.12m
9:15PM1.69m
10:30AM1.06m
9:39PM1.66m
11:11AM0.99m
10:04PM1.62m
11:58AM0.93m
10:31PM1.55m
12:54PM0.87m
11:02PM1.47m
2:13PM0.84m
11:39PM1.38m
4:15PM0.87m
00:32AM1.27m
Low Tide
3:01PM0.43m
4:21AM-0.15m
3:25PM0.52m
4:56AM-0.13m
3:48PM0.59m
5:34AM-0.08m
4:10PM0.66m
6:17AM-0.01m
4:32PM0.73m
7:08AM0.06m
4:52PM0.79m
8:09AM0.12m
5:19PM0.87m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:31
7:32
7:34
7:35
7:35
7:36
7:37
1
1
Temp °C
18
18
16
18
18
16
17
17
16
15
16
15
15
16
15
16
17
16
19
20
17
17
17
16
18
16
16
14
15
14
13
12
12
12
12
12
14
14
15
18
18
17
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
W
7
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
5
0.5
W
5
0.3
W
5
0.4
W
12
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.7
W
6
Energy kJ
44
27
13
14
5
44
66
85
84
156
102
171
144
142
236
251
191
134
136
100
30
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.2
SSW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.3
SW
13
0.2
S
10
0.3
S
13
0.2
S
10
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
S
12
0.4
SW
18
0.2
S
12
0.6
W
5
0.4
W
5
0.2
S
11
0.5
W
4
0.1
SW
19
0.1
W
11
0.5
SW
13
Energy kJ
28
28
28
28
30
65
25
8
31
8
71
25
80
11
18
8
9
10
15
2
88
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
12
0.2
S
12
0.2
SSW
18
0.2
SSW
18
0.2
WSW
12
0.3
S
11
0.2
S
10
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SW
18
0.2
S
13
0.3
S
12
0.2
SSW
13
0.2
S
12
0.2
WNW
13
0.2
S
11
0.2
S
11
0.2
WNW
12
0.3
SW
19
0.1
W
11
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SW
18
Energy kJ
11
11
31
31
15
21
8
12
49
14
28
17
11
17
10
9
14
59
2
13
50
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
W
3
0.4
WSW
5
0.5
W
6
0.6
W
5
0.6
W
5
0.5
W
5
0.5
W
4
0.6
W
5
0.7
W
5
0.5
W
5
0.6
W
6
0.6
W
6
Energy kJ
3
8
16
17
17
11
7
16
25
11
22
23
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
Distance (km)
82
205
28
87
87
0
135
136
87
11
87
11
150
561
21
87
87
11
87
87
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
2
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
7
7
8
5
5
5
6
5
  • 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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