Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
25.0°C
5.2° 

Cottons Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cottons Point surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, S swell with 1,419 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s 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 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. 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 2.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 1st Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 13s
Best Surf 8PM (Sat 5th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 14s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 7th Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. The next couple of weeks at Cottons Point are a bit of a mix, but there’s a proper window of quality coming. Most of the time, we’re getting south to south-west groundswell, but those westerly winds are blowing cross-onshore and making things choppy – not ideal. But stick with me.

The first mention is Monday August 31st, but it’s not much. A small 3ft south swell with a 12-second period, and that west wind at 9 mph cross-onshore is messing it up. Wave energy is moderate (402), but the surf is poor. That pattern holds for a few days. Tuesday morning September 1st cleans up a bit with an offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph, but the swell is tiny at 2ft with a long 13-second period. Not enough to get excited about. The water is sitting at 77°F, which is a massive 9° warmer than normal – far warmer than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be in for a warm dip.

Wednesday morning the 2nd has a very long-period 16-second south-west groundswell at 2ft, but that’s just too small despite clean offshore winds. Wave energy is moderate (263). Things build slowly.

Now, the real standout. Sunday September 6th is looking good. The swell builds into the afternoon, hitting 6ft from the south at a 14-second period. That’s a solid groundswell with plenty of power – wave energy is high (1265). And the wind drops to dead calm – glassy conditions. This is prime for Cottons, a reef and point setup that will handle that long-period swell well. This is the best of the run. It’ll be clean and punchy, and over 5ft, it’s not one for beginners – but intermediate and above, this is your session.

Monday September 7th keeps the goods going. The morning brings 7ft south swell (13-second period) with a light cross-shore NW wind at 6 mph, a few bumps. But the afternoon is the pick – 6ft from the south, 12-second period, and the wind turns cross-offshore, giving clean, lined-up waves. Wave energy is strong (1226). These two days – Sunday arvo and Monday arvo – are the ones to circle.

After that, it fades fast. Tuesday the 8th gets messy with a 12 mph south wind and short-period 5ft swell, turning poor. The rest of the week into the second week is mostly small, weak swell (energy dropping under 500) with persistent cross-onshore winds. Between the 8th and the 15th, there’s a long stretch of nothing worth paddling for, with swell barely over 3ft and mostly choppy. By Monday September 14th, it’s down to 1ft – just a memory.

So, bottom line: skip the early days, but lock in Sunday September 6th and Monday September 7th. That’s your window. Cottons Point will be offering up proper south swell lines with clean conditions – don’t miss it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
3
0
1
2
0
1
3
2
2
4
2
4
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
S
12
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
13
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SW
17
0.8
SSW
11
0.9
SW
18
1
SSW
18
1
SSW
17
1.2
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.3
S
13
1.5
S
13
1.8
S
14
2
S
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
184
156
116
114
93
132
175
291
143
455
651
587
726
674
512
512
590
784
1262
1419
Wind (km/h)
15
W
5
W
10
WSW
15
W
5
WNW
10
SW
15
W
5
SSE
15
SSW
10
SW
10
SE
15
S
15
WSW
5
E
10
WSW
10
SW
5
E
5
WNW
0
NNE
20
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
on
cross-off
on
on
glassy
cross
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
11:42PM1.26m
11:53AM1.63m
00:41AM1.06m
12:34PM1.62m
2:20AM0.88m
1:34PM1.57m
5:35AM0.88m
3:06PM1.55m
6:58AM1.01m
4:42PM1.62m
7:24AM1.14m
5:56PM1.74m
Low Tide
5:52PM0.28m
5:29AM0.41m
6:51PM0.30m
5:52AM0.58m
8:11PM0.32m
6:14AM0.73m
9:57PM0.27m
6:35AM0.88m
11:34PM0.14m
10:07AM0.94m
00:38AM-0.01m
11:51AM0.84m
1:25AM-0.13m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:16
7:15
7:14
7:13
7:12
7:09
7:08
 mm
1
3
Temp °C
24
21
23
23
20
22
23
21
22
22
20
23
23
20
24
24
22
25
26
23
Feels °C
24
21
22
21
20
21
21
20
21
21
22
22
22
21
24
23
23
25
24
23
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  • 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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