Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW 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★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. 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 glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (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
Alright, Rusty here again, looking at the same forecast for Cottons Point but in feet and Fahrenheit. It’s a rough stretch, so don’t expect much.
The whole thing starts on Tuesday, 11 August, with a 2ft SSW groundswell, a very long 18-second period, but the combined energy is weak at 493. The wind is a cross-on from the W at 12 mph, making it choppy and poor. The water is 74°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year.
Through the rest of the first week, the swell barely moves, staying between 2ft and 3ft. The wind is always cross-on or onshore. The best you’ll see are a few marginal mornings, like Thursday 13 August morning with a 2ft SW swell and light onshore wind, but it’s still a “marginal” call. The energy stays moderate, topping out at 699 on Friday 14 August afternoon, but with a cross-on W wind at 9 mph, it’s just choppy.
The weekend of 15-16 August is the closest thing to a highlight. Saturday 15 August afternoon sees the swell hit 4ft from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds, and a combined energy of 718. The wind is light cross-on, so there might be a few clean-ish waves if you’re lucky. Still, it’s marginal. Sunday morning is similar, with a 4ft SW swell and light onshore wind, better than the afternoon.
The second week, from 17 August onwards, is a bust. The swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is cross-on from the W or WNW. The energy is mostly weak, in the 200–400 range. There’s a tiny spike on 26 August with a 3ft S swell and a good 18-second period, with energy hitting 1134 in the afternoon, but the wind is still cross-on. Cottons Point is a reef and point, so it handles long-period swell well, but the wind ruins it.
There’s no real standout. The best is the morning of Saturday 15 August with the 4ft swell and light wind, but it’s still marginal. The rest of the 16 days is a long stretch of poor conditions. With the small swell and constant cross-onshore wind, this setup might be more fun for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | 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 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 | 255 | 358 | 280 | 302 | 404 | 807 | 417 | 683 | 666 | 551 | 443 | 437 | 367 | 264 | 357 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 12:11PM1.55m | 00:18AM1.28m | 12:47PM1.51m | 1:15AM1.05m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:51AM0.17m | 6:30PM0.37m | 6:17AM0.37m | 7:30PM0.43m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 118 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 | 255 | 358 | 280 | 217 | 404 | 807 | 417 | 683 | 666 | 551 | 443 | 437 | 367 | 264 | 357 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 18 | SW 14 | W 4 | SW 14 | S 11 | W 5 | S 11 | S 10 | W 5 | S 10 | SSW 18 | W 6 |
| kJ | 252 | 68 | 42 | 49 | 35 | 62 | 61 | 51 | 302 | 214 | 5 | 191 | 21 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 8 | 63 | 30 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 12 | SW 12 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 9 | W 12 | S 12 | S 11 | W 11 | S 11 | W 10 | W 10 | S 10 | W 10 | SW 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 75 | 44 | 44 | 61 | 27 | 23 | 44 | 149 | 16 | 3 | 44 | 37 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | — | W 4 | — | — | — | W 8 | — | W 6 | SSW 11 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 6 | W 5 | — | W 6 | W 6 | — |
| kJ | 48 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 12 | — | 3 | 78 | 8 | 7 | 12 | — | 15 | 20 | — | 22 | 22 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 11 | 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.
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