Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 932 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 (Aug 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into what's on offer for the next couple of weeks.
Right now things are looking pretty average. There’s swell on the way but it’s coming with a lot of so-so conditions. The overall feeling is that we’re in for a run of marginal to poor surf, with only a few windows where things line up even a little.
Let’s start with Cottons Point (reef and point). Wednesday the 26th of August has some early morning S swell coming in around 4 ft with a 12-second period. The wind is light and onshore from the SSW, so it’s not going to be clean. The water is a very warm 72°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (807), but honestly, the whole day is tagged as marginal with questionable tide conditions, so don’t get too excited. The afternoon is similar but with slightly less energy (668). This spot is consistent and can handle a SW swell, but the onshore wind is a buzzkill.
Thursday the 27th is more of the same: swell drops a touch to 4 ft from the S in the morning, but the wind swings cross-on from the SSW, putting small wind ripples on the face. By afternoon the wave height eases to 3 ft and the energy drops to 444. It’s looking poor.
Friday the 28th sees a much longer period groundswell from the SSW – 17 to 19 seconds – but the height is only around 2 ft to 3 ft. The combined energy bounces between 469 and 526, which is moderate, but that long period means those waves will be very inconsistent and better suited to this reef and point setup than a beach break. The wind stays cross-on, so it won’t be glassy.
Saturday the 29th is probably the best of a mediocre run. Morning sees 4 ft of SSW swell (17-second period) with onshore wind and energy at 784, and the afternoon holds at 4 ft (16-second period) with energy at 813. It’s still light cross-on though. This is the only session I’d even consider, but it’s marginal.
From Sunday the 30th right through to Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s a slow bleed. Heights sit around 3 ft to 5 ft, but the wind is often cross-on and the surf is consistently rated as poor or marginal. There’s a small bump on Tuesday afternoon with 5 ft from the S at 12 seconds, but energy is moderate (664) and the wind is cross-on.
Now, come Wednesday the 2nd of September, the swell picks up to 5 ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, and combined energy climbs to 860 in the morning. But the wind is cross-shore from the NW – and by afternoon, that wind cranks up to 19 mph from the WNW, with energy jumping to 1099. It’s fresh and lumpy. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a fun paddle session at this exposed point.
Thursday the 3rd of September brings the biggest swell of the whole window: 7 ft from the SSW with 13-second period. Morning energy is 1245, afternoon hits 1386. That’s a powerful, moderate-to-strong swell. But it's cross to cross-on wind again. At 7 ft, this is getting into expert territory, and with the chop, it won’t be user-friendly. Still, it’s the most energy we see.
After that, from Friday the 4th through to Thursday the 10th of September, we drop back into the same pattern: tiny 2 ft to 4 ft SSW groundswells, often with cross-on winds. Nothing stands out. The periods are long (14 to 19 seconds) but the height is just too small to offer anything meaningful.
So the honest truth is, there’s no true standout in this 16-day window. If I had to point to one session, it would be Saturday morning the 29th of August – 4 ft at 17 seconds from the SSW, light onshore wind, moderate energy (784) – but even that’s a stretch. For the rest, you’re better off waiting for a better forecast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
485 | 461 | 272 | 333 | 231 | 270 | 351 | 325 | 932 | 700 | 733 | 706 | 537 | 400 | 321 | 257 | 158 | 228 | 441 | 565 | 672 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:16AM1.30m | 8:37PM1.78m | 9:38AM1.37m | 9:09PM1.77m | 10:01AM1.45m | 9:43PM1.71m | 10:26AM1.52m | 10:18PM1.61m | 10:52AM1.58m | 10:57PM1.45m | 11:20AM1.62m | 11:42PM1.26m | 11:53AM1.63m | 00:41AM1.06m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:35PM0.54m | 3:31AM-0.06m | 3:09PM0.45m | 3:55AM-0.04m | 3:45PM0.38m | 4:19AM0.02m | 4:23PM0.33m | 4:43AM0.13m | 5:04PM0.29m | 5:06AM0.26m | 5:52PM0.28m | 5:29AM0.41m | 6:51PM0.30m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
485 | 461 | 272 | 333 | 231 | 154 | 351 | 54 | 932 | 700 | 733 | 706 | 537 | 400 | 80 | 257 | 148 | 228 | 441 | 565 | 672 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SW 14 | S 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 13 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | WNW 9 |
302 | 196 | 171 | 169 | 132 | 270 | 79 | 147 | 34 | 64 | 53 | 141 | 117 | 87 | 321 | 43 | 158 | 180 | 67 | 80 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 13 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 14 | W 9 | SSW 19 | W 7 | S 8 | W 9 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 13 | S 16 | SSW 13 | W 5 | WNW 10 | — |
20 | 11 | 55 | 142 | 81 | 116 | 39 | 325 | 21 | 20 | 27 | 10 | 35 | 55 | 47 | 168 | 20 | 114 | 4 | 19 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 87 | 13 | 82 | 65 | 4 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 4 | 87 | 87 | 4 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 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.











