Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 666 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cottons Point in the next 16 days are 1.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be honest with you right off the bat: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for any real waves at our main spot, Cottons Point. We’ve got a long, flat spell ahead before anything worth paddling out for shows its face. I’ll walk you through it, day by day, so you know when to bother waxing up and when to just go for a swim.
The first real glimmer of hope is on Saturday the 15th. It’s not much – a modest 3.9ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period. We’ve got light cross-on wind, but the strongest energy here is weak to moderate, registering at 774. It’s going to be a bit crumbly and choppy, not the cleanest surface. It’s just not enough to get excited about.
Sunday the 16th sees the swell drop to 3.3ft. The morning is cleaner with a light breeze, but the energy is weaker at 526, and the afternoon turns choppy with the wind picking up to 12 mph. The following week, from Monday the 17th all the way through Sunday the 23rd, is a real downer. Swell heights barely push past 3ft, and the periods hover in that mid-range. We’re looking at weak energy with numbers only in the 200s and 300s. It’s gutless and crumbly, with plenty of poor conditions. You’re better off finding something else to do.
We get a slight reprieve on Sunday the 23rd with a touch more energy (287), but the waves are just as small, and a cross-offshore wind on Monday the 24th brings a little bit of structure to a 2ft swell, though it's still marginal at best. The energy is still weak at 345.
Now, here’s where I start to perk up. Looking at the tail end of the window, around Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th, there’s a pulse of stronger energy. On the 28th afternoon, the swell bumps up to 4.3ft from the SSW with a solid 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1044. This is the most significant push we’ve seen all window. It’s a bit more promising, but the winds are still cross-onshore, so expect some chop on the surface. The peak of this pulse looks like Saturday morning the 29th, with a 3.6ft SSW swell at an 18-second period and strong energy at 972. This could be the best we get. It’s still just a "marginal" forecast, so I wouldn’t call it epic, but it’s the only time with any real push behind it. The water right now is a very unusual 73.6°, running a full 5.9° warmer than average for this time of year, so a wetsuit might not even be needed.
So, for the honest truth: there are no standouts in this 16-day outlook. The best on offer is that push on the 28th and 29th, but it’s still likely to be a choppy and inconsistent affair. For the rest of the time, we’re mostly waiting for that long-period groundswell to fill in and hoping the wind gods cooperate. It’s looking like a lot of groveling and waiting. Forecasts change though, and with a period that long, there’s always a chance things could clean up. Keep your eyes on the horizon.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
683 | 666 | 499 | 443 | 367 | 330 | 261 | 257 | 232 | 243 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 175 | 156 | 99 | 98 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:31PM1.52m | 12:11PM1.55m | 00:18AM1.28m | 12:47PM1.51m | 1:15AM1.05m | 1:28PM1.45m | 2:46AM0.87m | 2:22PM1.40m | 3:41PM1.37m | 8:16AM0.98m | 5:05PM1.40m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 5:38PM0.33m | 5:51AM0.17m | 6:30PM0.37m | 6:17AM0.37m | 7:30PM0.43m | 6:40AM0.56m | 8:50PM0.46m | 6:55AM0.73m | 10:43PM0.43m | 00:16AM0.32m | 9:51AM0.97m | 1:08AM0.21m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
683 | 666 | 499 | 443 | 367 | 330 | 261 | 257 | 82 | 46 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 175 | 156 | 99 | 98 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 4 | W 5 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 19 | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 6 |
2 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 36 | 37 | 50 | 232 | 243 | 53 | 32 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 35 | 8 | 11 | 51 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 11 | S 10 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 13 | WNW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 |
10 | 20 | 19 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 121 | 2 | 114 | 98 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 57 | 13 | 14 | 81 | 49 | 51 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — |
79 | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | 11 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 11 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 65 | 0 | 82 | 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.











