Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 614 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 (Jul 15) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. 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 1.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM. 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+) | 8AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day mates, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the cards for Cottons Point. Strap yourselves in, it’s a mixed bag ahead. The water’s sitting at a balmy 71°, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year – a proper anomaly, feels like a bath out there.
Right now, we’ve got a bit of a flat spell. The first decent surf doesn’t pop up until Saturday, 18th July. Through the week before that, it’s tiny and messy with cross-onshore winds – not worth paddling out for.
Come Saturday morning, 18th July, the swell picks up to 3 ft from the SW with a juicy 18-second period, pushing moderate energy (513). Winds are a cross-on SSW breeze, so it’s a bit bumpy but not terrible. Still on the marginal side, so don’t expect magic.
Sunday morning, 19th July, we see a little more push – 4 ft from the S, period dropping to 12 seconds, and the energy jumps to strong (875). Winds are light offshore from the SW, so it’ll be clean, but the shorter period means it won’t have a heap of shape. A decent session for the intermediate crew.
The real standout is shaping up for Saturday, 25th July. Mark it in your calendar. The morning is absolutely glassy – winds from the WSW at only 3 mph, a dead calm “glass” condition. You’ll be looking at 5 ft of SSW groundswell at 13 seconds, with very strong energy (1516). That’s clean, punchy, and proper. This one’s for the experienced surfers though – that 5 ft at this break with the right direction is solid. The afternoon stays clean with offshore breezes. This is the session to chase.
Sunday, 26th July morning still has some life, 3 ft from the SSW with a 19-second period – that’s very long period groundswell, which can sometimes break a bit straight at beachier spots, but this is a reef and point setup, so it should wrap in nicely. Winds are light offshore again. Energy is still very strong (1241), but the swell is smaller.
After that, we hit another patch of small, choppy conditions with cross-onshore winds into the end of the month. Not much to get excited about.
So, the pick of the fortnight is undeniably Saturday, 25th July morning at Cottons Point – glassy, solid swell, and a setup that should offer some real quality waves for those with the skills to handle it. Stay keen.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 107 | 96 | 161 | 122 | 122 | 125 | 181 | 103 | 136 | 366 | 379 | 293 | 488 | 424 | 376 | 358 | 258 | 452 | 519 | 480 | 474 |
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 | cross | cross-on | on | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:06AM1.29m | 10:19PM2.02m | 11:47AM1.34m | 11:06PM1.86m | 12:29PM1.38m | 11:54PM1.64m | 1:12PM1.41m | 00:44AM1.39m | 1:58PM1.43m | 1:45AM1.14m | 2:48PM1.44m | 3:09AM0.93m | 3:42PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:12PM0.50m | 5:29AM-0.35m | 5:04PM0.49m | 6:07AM-0.21m | 5:59PM0.50m | 6:44AM-0.03m | 7:01PM0.53m | 7:19AM0.16m | 8:13PM0.55m | 7:54AM0.37m | 9:43PM0.52m | 8:31AM0.55m | 11:24PM0.42m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 8 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 95 | 83 | 161 | 53 | 76 | 85 | 29 | 103 | 136 | 366 | 379 | 210 | 488 | 409 | 248 | 174 | 125 | 452 | 519 | 480 | 474 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SW 16 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | W 7 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 9 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 96 | 73 | 122 | 122 | 107 | 181 | 24 | 39 | 102 | 101 | 293 | 342 | 424 | 376 | 358 | 258 | 92 | 27 | 28 | 69 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | S 4 | W 6 | SW 13 | S 14 | SW 16 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | SW 13 | W 5 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | 107 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 47 | 125 | 74 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 93 | 93 | 45 | 43 | 21 | 20 | 84 | 13 | 74 | 47 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | — | S 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 150 | 16 | 82 | 82 | 30 | 87 | 82 | 13 | 65 | 87 | 1 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 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.
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