Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
22.7°C
3.1° 

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 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 553 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 5PM. 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 (Wed 16th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 17th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 5PM (Mon 21st Sep)3.5ft (1.0m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s cooking at Cottons Point over the next couple of weeks.

Look, I won’t sugarcoat it – the first week is pretty quiet. The swell is small and most of the time we’ve got a cross-onshore breeze messing with the surface. The water is sitting at 73°, which is a good three degrees warmer than average for September, so it feels like a warm bath out there.

The first proper sign of life shows up around Saturday the 19th of September. A long-period groundswell from the SW is pushing through with a 18-second interval, and while the wave height is only about 3ft (0.8m), that long-period energy (504 combined energy) will produce some cleaner lines breaking over the reef and point. The morning wind is light and onshore, so the surface should be fairly clean.

Your standout window, though, is Monday the 21st of September. The swell nudges up to 3ft (1.0m) from the SW with a 17-second period and a combined energy of 630. That’s the biggest and most consistent pulse in the entire outlook. The wind is light and onshore in the morning, which is your best shot at a decent, uncrowded session before the breeze picks up.

After that, it’s a slow slide. The swell drops back to 3ft (0.8m) or smaller, the period shortens below 15 seconds, and the wind stays cross or onshore through the next week. Honestly, if you want a wave, make that Monday your target.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
3
2
0
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.4
SSW
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
19
0.8
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
0.9
SW
18
0.9
SW
18
0.9
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
150
190
161
127
114
390
229
366
288
275
405
303
303
234
379
375
375
455
522
499
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
SSE
15
S
10
SSW
5
SSE
10
SSW
10
WSW
0
SW
10
WSW
15
W
5
WNW
10
SW
15
W
0
SSW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
S
15
SSW
10
SSW
10
SSE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross
High Tide
11:59PM1.17m
11:38AM1.58m
00:58AM0.99m
12:07PM1.48m
2:45AM0.87m
12:46PM1.38m
2:20PM1.29m
7:59AM1.06m
4:25PM1.30m
7:35AM1.13m
5:38PM1.39m
Low Tide
5:59PM0.22m
5:16AM0.57m
6:51PM0.30m
5:28AM0.72m
8:00PM0.38m
5:12AM0.84m
9:44PM0.41m
11:29PM0.35m
9:58AM1.05m
00:26AM0.26m
11:54AM0.95m
1:02AM0.17m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:35
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:58
6:57
6:54
6:53
6:52
6:51
6:50
 mm
Temp °C
22
20
22
22
20
21
21
19
21
21
19
21
22
20
22
23
21
23
22
20
Feels °C
22
21
22
21
21
21
20
20
21
20
19
21
21
20
22
23
23
23
22
22
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  • 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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