Cottons Point surfForecast / CAL – Orange County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Monday 18 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
18.4° C
(Which is 2.3°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 Tuesday (May 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 19th May)1.5ft (0.4m) 15s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 20th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 21s
Most Powerful 2PM (Mon 25th May)3.5ft (1.0m) 17s

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 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
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
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
8
0.9
W
7
0.4
S
15
0.3
SW
24
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
13
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.4
SW
19
0.5
SW
19
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
133
88
68
96
94
91
124
149
133
184
176
136
366
152
186
255
258
255
223
217
214
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
15
WSW
0
NE
15
WSW
15
W
5
S
10
SW
10
SW
10
SSE
10
SW
15
WSW
5
SW
15
SW
15
W
0
WSW
10
WSW
15
W
5
NW
15
W
20
W
5
W
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
11:38AM1.08m
10:33PM1.94m
12:41PM1.04m
11:25PM1.82m
1:50PM1.03m
00:25AM1.66m
3:03PM1.08m
1:36AM1.47m
4:09PM1.17m
2:58AM1.30m
5:02PM1.29m
4:22AM1.18m
5:45PM1.41m
Low Tide
4:14PM0.59m
6:08AM-0.41m
5:06PM0.66m
7:06AM-0.30m
6:12PM0.73m
8:07AM-0.19m
7:38PM0.77m
9:10AM-0.07m
9:22PM0.73m
10:10AM0.04m
11:00PM0.60m
11:03AM0.14m
00:13AM0.42m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
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>
5:48
5:47
5:47
5:46
5:46
5:45
5:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:45
7:45
7:46
7:46
7:47
7:49
7:49
Temp °C
19
18
16
20
21
18
20
20
18
19
19
17
18
18
16
18
18
16
18
19
16
17
15
16
18
18
17
18
18
18
18
17
17
17
16
15
17
16
15
16
16
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
8
0.9
W
7
0.6
W
7
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
13
0.5
W
4
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.5
S
14
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
18
0.5
SW
14
0.6
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
14
Energy kJ
133
88
34
92
90
9
124
149
109
107
176
136
366
102
186
255
258
255
223
217
214
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
12
0.4
S
15
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
S
13
0.4
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
12
0.4
SW
19
0.5
SW
15
0.5
S
14
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
13
0.4
S
12
0.4
S
12
0.4
S
12
0.4
W
4
0.3
S
11
0.4
SSW
19
0.6
W
5
Energy kJ
52
49
68
96
94
90
50
49
133
106
101
89
87
82
45
44
44
5
20
143
18
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
16
0.4
S
15
0.4
SSW
12
0.3
SW
24
0.2
WNW
11
0.4
SW
16
0.4
W
6
0.2
S
16
0.4
W
4
0.5
SW
19
0.1
NW
12
0.4
W
12
0.4
W
11
0.5
SW
18
0.4
W
4
0.1
SW
21
0.1
SW
21
0.3
S
11
0.2
SSW
20
0.3
S
11
0.5
SSW
18
Energy kJ
46
68
48
87
12
91
9
19
6
184
6
42
37
152
6
18
18
21
38
20
178
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.4
W
5
0.4
W
5
0.5
W
5
0.3
W
4
0.5
W
3
0.4
W
4
0.7
W
4
0.7
WNW
5
Energy kJ
18
25
8
8
14
3
5
6
14
26
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
Distance (km)
82
135
0
87
87
0
87
150
65
87
87
0
87
87
0
87
87
11
87
87
87
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
1
3
2
4
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
1
1
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
7
5
5
7
9
5
4
4
5
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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