
Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, SSW swell with 626 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 4s 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 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve got to be honest with you – the next couple of weeks at Cottons Point are looking pretty grim. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell with hardly any proper surf on offer. The water is running at a very warm 73°F, which is a massive 6°F above the norm for this time of year – feels like we’re in a bath out there, not a surf zone.
The forecast starts on Monday, September 7, with a bit of a pulse. We’ve got a 6ft SSW swell rolling in, but it’s short-lived and messy. The wind is a cross-on from the WNW at 6 mph, and the combined energy is moderate at 1089. It’s a bit of a lumpy, cross-onshore mess, and the wave comment says it’s marginal. Honestly, not worth paddling out for. The afternoon gets worse – wind picks up to 16 mph, cross-shore, and the swell drops to 6ft. That’s a chop-fest.
Tuesday, September 8, the swell drops further to 4ft in the morning, still cross-on wind, and the combined energy is down to 537. By afternoon it’s a 3ft dribble with a cross-chop. Not good.
From Wednesday, September 9, through to Sunday, September 13, we’re in a proper slump. Swell heights barely reach 3ft, mostly smaller, with periods all over the shop. The long period swells (16-17 seconds) are rolling in, but they’re tiny – 2ft to 3ft – so they’re just not doing anything. The combined energy drops into the weak 200-400 range. The winds are mostly light cross-onshore, which is at least something, but the surf quality is rated as “poor” or “marginal.” There’s nothing to get excited about.
The next week, from September 14 to September 18, is much the same. Swell stays small, mostly 1ft to 3ft, with a few longer-period groundswells (18-19 seconds) that are too weak to break properly. The best of a bad bunch is Friday, September 18, in the afternoon – we get a whisper of a glass-off with NW wind at 3 mph, and the swell is 2ft, but it’s a 19-second period. The combined energy is 490. It’s glassy, so it might be clean, but it’s tiny. For a reef and point break like Cottons, a long-period 2ft swell could produce a few fun little lines, but it’s for the longboard or a fish, not a proper session.
The last few days, from September 19 to September 22, we see a slight bump. On Monday, September 21, we get a 4ft SSW swell with a 18-second period and very light offshore winds from the SW in the morning. The combined energy is a moderate 740. This is probably the best of the entire 16-day window. The wind is light and offshore, so the reef at Cottons Point could clean up nicely. But it’s still only 4ft, so it’s not a standout. It’s a “maybe” session for the die-hards.
There are no true standouts here. The forecast is a long, flat run with a few marginal pulses. If you’re desperate, keep an eye on September 21 – that’s your best bet for a clean but small wave. Otherwise, the kites might have more fun with the cross-shore winds on the choppier days, but for paddling, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1025 | 820 | 626 | 246 | 194 | 151 | 173 | 278 | 419 | 553 | 502 | 483 | 471 | 360 | 309 | 214 | 164 | 160 | 147 | 136 | 149 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:54PM1.85m | 8:19AM1.38m | 7:43PM1.91m | 8:47AM1.49m | 8:28PM1.91m | 9:17AM1.59m | 9:10PM1.83m | 9:46AM1.66m | 9:50PM1.71m | 10:15AM1.70m | 10:31PM1.55m | 10:44AM1.70m | 11:13PM1.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:54PM0.67m | 2:04AM-0.19m | 1:43PM0.49m | 2:39AM-0.20m | 2:28PM0.34m | 3:11AM-0.15m | 3:10PM0.23m | 3:40AM-0.05m | 3:52PM0.16m | 4:08AM0.08m | 4:33PM0.14m | 4:33AM0.24m | 5:15PM0.16m | 4:56AM0.41m | |||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 |
1025 | 820 | 626 | 246 | 194 | 145 | 68 | 278 | 419 | 553 | 502 | 483 | 471 | 360 | 309 | 52 | 40 | 61 | 89 | 136 | 149 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | SW 19 | W 4 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
6 | 58 | 9 | 207 | 154 | 151 | 135 | 86 | 82 | 72 | 10 | 29 | 43 | 41 | 38 | 214 | 164 | 160 | 147 | 87 | 84 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 16 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
58 | — | 51 | 81 | 112 | 10 | 173 | 45 | 31 | 20 | 46 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 41 | 35 | 32 | 59 | 58 | 129 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | W 5 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 9 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 87 | 11 | 87 | 70 | 87 | 11 | 87 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 30 | 82 | 87 | 65 | 82 | 87 | 4 | 65 | 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.










