Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 807 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 (Aug 10) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) 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+) | 2AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty.
Let's be real about Cottons Point. The next 16 days are looking pretty grim, mate. There’s not a single standout session in the whole window. We’re looking at a lot of poor surf conditions and only a handful of days that are even marginal. The water temp is sitting at 24° on the 9th, which is a massive 5° warmer than normal for this time of year—that’s very unusual and will feel like a warm bath.
The first recommendation isn’t until Monday the 10th of August, but even then, it’s a no-go. Monday morning has a tiny 3ft SSW swell with a period of 14 seconds, but the wind is offshore and light, wave energy is moderate (317). Still, it’s rated poor. The afternoon bumps up to a 2ft SW swell with a long 20-second period, giving a solid moderate energy level (399), but again, the forecast is poor.
Tuesday the 11th offers a marginal call in the morning with a 2ft SSW swell, 13-second period, light offshore wind, and moderate energy (223). It’s not great, but it’s the best we see for a while. The swell direction (SSW) is not the optimum SW that Cottons Point really needs, so don't expect much.
From there, it’s a slog. The entire second week, from the 17th to the 24th of August, is filled with poor surf. There are no true standouts. The biggest swell we see is 4ft on the morning of Sunday the 16th, but it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind and a moderate breeze, making it choppy. The combined energy on the 14th afternoon hits 717, which is moderate, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s still rated poor.
Even the marginal calls on the 20th and 24th are small—3ft and 2ft respectively—with light wind, but the quality just isn’t there. For a break that is consistent, the next 16 days are a real letdown.
Keep the board in the car just in case, but I wouldn’t be making any special trips for this. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 242 | 239 | 207 | 186 | 184 | 95 | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 | 255 | 358 | 280 | 302 | 404 | 807 | 417 | 627 | 729 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:57PM1.93m | 8:47AM1.21m | 7:49PM2.03m | 9:21AM1.31m | 8:37PM2.07m | 9:55AM1.40m | 9:22PM2.03m | 10:28AM1.47m | 10:06PM1.92m | 11:02AM1.53m | 10:48PM1.74m | 11:37AM1.55m | 11:31PM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:27AM-0.29m | 1:39PM0.62m | 3:07AM-0.35m | 2:30PM0.50m | 3:44AM-0.35m | 3:17PM0.40m | 4:19AM-0.29m | 4:04PM0.34m | 4:52AM-0.17m | 4:50PM0.32m | 5:23AM-0.01m | 5:38PM0.33m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 242 | 239 | 207 | 156 | 137 | 95 | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 | 255 | 358 | 280 | 217 | 404 | 807 | 417 | 627 | 729 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SW 14 | S 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 11 |
| kJ | 30 | 30 | 106 | 186 | 184 | 75 | 98 | 55 | 44 | 61 | 35 | 61 | 40 | 149 | 302 | 214 | 27 | 191 | 61 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | W 4 | W 12 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SW 12 | SSW 21 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 11 | W 4 | WSW 8 | S 11 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 72 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 33 | 51 | 75 | 44 | 44 | 49 | 27 | 39 | 44 | 40 | 33 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 21 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | W 4 | SW 11 | — | W 6 | WNW 12 | — | W 5 | — | — | — | W 3 | — | W 5 | SW 10 | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 4 |
| kJ | 8 | — | 1 | 18 | — | 2 | 28 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 94 | — | 21 | 34 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 11 | 87 | 87 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cottons Point surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest