Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Issued: 4 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
19.9° C

1.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 20s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with 777 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 20s 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 20s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 16s. 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 1.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 6th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 20s
Best Surf11PM (Mon 6th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 20s
Most Powerful11AM (Tue 7th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 18s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – we’ve got a real dry spell ahead at Cottons Point. The next two and a half weeks are mostly a write-off, with only a couple of flashes of hope. The swell’s going to be small and mostly messy, and the wind’s not doing us many favours. But let’s walk through it day by day.

The first real surf window is Monday, July 6th, but it’s a tough one. We’ve got a 3ft SSW swell rolling in with a very long 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell, which at a reef-and-point setup like Cottons Point means it could wrap in nicely, but the wind is cross-onshore and light at 6 mph, so expect a bit of texture on the surface. The water’s sitting at 68°, which is about a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not bad for a winter dip. The combined swell energy is moderate at 528, but the wave comment says “marginal,” so don’t expect anything special. Tuesday and Wednesday don’t improve much – the swell nudges up to about 4ft, still from the SSW, with periods around 16 to 18 seconds, but the wind stays cross-onshore and the conditions are lukewarm at best. The energy ticks up to 837 on Tuesday morning, but the surf quality is still poor or marginal.

Honestly, the first week is a grind. Thursday and Friday see the swell drop back to 3ft to 3ft, with stronger cross-onshore winds up to 12 mph, making it choppy and pretty ordinary. The energy drops to around 424, which is weak wave energy. The weekend of July 11th and 12th is flat and uninspiring – the swell stays at 3ft to 3ft, and the wind finally turns offshore on Sunday morning, but the period drops to 14 seconds and the surf is still poor. A small glimmer on Sunday afternoon as wind swings light onshore at just 3 mph, but it’s still marginal.

We hit a real dead zone from Monday, July 13th all the way through to Friday, July 17th. Swell sizes tumble to 1ft to 2ft, and the energy drops to 169–339, barely a ripple. The wind stays cross-onshore with some light offshore moments, but you’d be fighting for anything rideable. That’s about a five-day gap where I really can’t recommend paddling out.

Now, here’s the standout – and it’s a long way off, so keep it in the back of your mind. Sunday, July 19th, late in the second week, we finally see a pulse of proper energy. The morning brings a 4ft S swell with a period of 14 seconds and light offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. The combined swell energy jumps to 1066, which is strong wave energy. The afternoon steps it up to 5ft from the S, period still 13 seconds, wind stays light offshore, and the energy cranks to 1075. This is easily the best on offer in the entire 16-day window. That S swell direction matches the optimum direction for Cottons Point (SW) reasonably well, and the light offshore wind will keep it clean. It’s still a bit marginal according to the comments, but for this spell, it’s the clear highlight. Keep in mind, it’s over a week away, so it’s promising but not locked in.

After that, the last couple of days, July 20th and 21st, drop back to 2ft to 3ft with light offshore or cross-onshore wind. The energy falls to 387–436. Nothing to get excited about.

So, the takeaway: we’ve got a lot of quiet, marginal days ahead. If you’re keen, pencil in Sunday, July 19th – that’s your best shot at something halfway decent. For the rest, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a lean run.

Stay salty,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu morning, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
3
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
1
1
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
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
20
1.1
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
326
326
485
777
603
491
667
651
675
552
481
481
367
411
405
344
358
210
210
229
220
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
15
W
5
SSE
10
SSW
15
W
5
SSE
10
SSW
10
W
10
S
15
SSW
15
S
15
SE
20
S
15
S
10
SE
15
S
10
SSW
0
SSW
15
SW
5
WSW
5
SSE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
cross
High Tide
2:39PM1.32m
2:04AM1.04m
3:27PM1.42m
3:52AM0.90m
4:19PM1.54m
5:43AM0.87m
5:13PM1.68m
7:10AM0.93m
6:07PM1.82m
8:12AM1.02m
7:01PM1.95m
9:01AM1.10m
7:53PM2.06m
Low Tide
8:54PM0.66m
8:25AM0.37m
10:29PM0.51m
9:13AM0.51m
11:52PM0.29m
10:15AM0.62m
00:56AM0.05m
11:25AM0.69m
1:49AM-0.16m
12:32PM0.69m
2:38AM-0.33m
1:33PM0.66m
3:23AM-0.44m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:46
5:47
5:47
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:02
8:02
8:02
8:01
8:01
8:01
8:01
 mm
Temp °C
21
22
19
22
22
20
23
23
21
23
23
20
22
22
19
21
21
19
21
21
20
Feels °C
21
21
19
23
22
21
23
23
22
23
23
20
21
21
19
21
21
20
21
22
21
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
1
W
7
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
Energy kJ
326
326
392
777
603
99
667
651
675
552
481
481
367
411
405
344
358
210
210
229
220
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
6
0.6
SSW
20
0.9
W
6
0.8
W
7
0.8
W
7
0.9
SSW
18
0.9
W
7
0.8
W
7
0.8
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
10
0.7
W
8
0.7
W
7
0.5
W
7
0.5
W
6
0.4
W
6
0.5
S
17
0.5
S
15
0.5
S
15
0.3
S
14
Energy kJ
22
259
61
58
60
491
88
63
72
97
128
68
55
52
22
20
11
153
110
113
33
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
21
0.4
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
20
0.1
SW
7
0.7
SW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
S
19
0.1
S
9
0.1
S
10
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
21
0.3
S
19
0.2
S
19
0.4
W
5
0.3
W
5
0.3
W
5
0.3
W
5
Energy kJ
180
47
485
2
220
140
118
2
2
2
9
66
30
9
5
5
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
6
0.4
WNW
6
Energy kJ
24
11
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
Distance (km)
87
87
0
82
161
25
82
87
82
82
82
4
88
87
4
91
87
0
87
87
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
4
2
2
4
3
2
4
3
2
4
4
2
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
6
6
5
8
6
5
5
5
9
9
7
4
  • 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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