
Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 418 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM. 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+) | 8PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the next couple of weeks. We're only lookin' at one spot this time, so I'll keep it real.
The overall pattern is a bit of a slow burn. The first half of the run is pretty flat and messy, honestly. We're looking at a stretch of small, wind-affected surf that ain't gonna get your heart racing. It's not until we push into the second week that we see a real shift towards something with a bit more promise.
From Friday the 11th right through to Sunday the 20th, it's a grind. Waves are tiny, mostly below 3 ft, and that wind is coming from the south and southeast, blowing cross-onshore. The water temp was sitting at 69° on Friday, which is a degree warmer than usual for this time of year – nothin' crazy, just a nice touch. But the surf quality is poor, with clean conditions being a real rarity. We do see a few windows of offshore wind on the 12th afternoon and 13th afternoon, but the swell is just too small to do anything with it. It’s a real waiting game.
Now, hold on to your boards because things start to take a turn on Monday the 21st. That's when we start to see the swell energy building. The combined energy climbs into the 600s and then up over 700 (718 on Monday afternoon!), which is a solid, moderate push of energy for this spot. We're looking at consistent waves of 3 ft from the southwest, with a nice long period of 17 seconds. That's groundswell, folks. The wind is still a bit of a mixed bag, but Monday afternoon has that light cross-onshore, not too shabby.
The absolute standout, the one to circle in your calendar, is the morning of Saturday the 19th and the morning of Sunday the 20th. Saturday morning at Cottons Point is looking like the cream of the crop. We've got a clean 3 ft southwest swell with an 18-second period – that's a proper, long-period groundswell. The wind is a light offshore from the WSW, so you can expect glassy, clean faces. The combined energy is over 500 (520), so there's real grunt in the water. This is gonna be a peaky, fun-sized wave. Sunday morning is a carbon copy with the same swell and wind direction, and even more energy at 589. For a reef-and-point break like this, that long-period southwest swell is exactly what the doctor ordered. Just a heads up, this spot can get a bit busy sometimes, but with waves this clean, you'll understand why.
All in all, the first week is a write-off, but the second week, especially from the 19th onward, has some real magic potential. It's a bit far out to lock in, but the signs are good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | W 10 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
471 | 360 | 309 | 211 | 164 | 160 | 89 | 130 | 165 | 119 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 127 | 113 | 386 | 240 | 326 | 284 | 246 | 242 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:46AM1.66m | 9:50PM1.71m | 10:15AM1.70m | 10:31PM1.55m | 10:44AM1.70m | 11:13PM1.36m | 11:11AM1.66m | 11:59PM1.17m | 11:38AM1.58m | 00:58AM0.99m | 12:07PM1.48m | 2:45AM0.87m | 12:46PM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:52PM0.16m | 4:08AM0.08m | 4:33PM0.14m | 4:33AM0.24m | 5:15PM0.16m | 4:56AM0.41m | 5:59PM0.22m | 5:16AM0.57m | 6:51PM0.30m | 5:28AM0.72m | 8:00PM0.38m | 5:12AM0.84m | 9:44PM0.41m | ||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
471 | 360 | 309 | 211 | 164 | 38 | 82 | 78 | 165 | 119 | 52 | 32 | 56 | 56 | 88 | 386 | 240 | 326 | 284 | 246 | 242 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 |
28 | 17 | 16 | 37 | 25 | 160 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 108 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 122 | 31 | 11 | 9 | 170 | 46 | 72 | 82 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 12 | SW 20 | SSW 12 | S 9 | W 4 |
22 | 20 | 16 | 29 | 29 | 14 | 58 | 130 | 129 | 44 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 127 | 113 | 14 | 42 | 61 | 50 | 26 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | W 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 87 | 65 | 82 | 87 | 28 | 65 | 87 | 4 | 65 | 87 | 65 | 82 | 87 | 1 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 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.










