Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 06 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
23.1°C
3.2° 

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 6 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,384 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period with S 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cottons Point in the next 16 days are 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Sun 6th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 13s
Best Surf 5PM (Sun 6th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 8AM (Mon 7th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a real mixed bag coming up, with a solid pulse of energy kicking things off this weekend, but then a long, drawn-out lull settles in. The water is sitting at a toasty 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home if you’ve got a shorty.

Cottons Point is the only show in town, and it fires up on Sunday the 6th. Sunday morning is the standout. We’re looking at a meaty 6ft of swell from the south, with a long period of 14 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined wave energy is pumping at a strong 1304 (that’s the three-digit number for you). The wind is a clean cross-off from the NNW at 9 mph, which is going to keep the faces nice and lined up. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – at 6ft, it’s a bit much for the groms. Sunday afternoon holds up well too, with the wind shifting to a perfect offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, and the swell still a solid 5ft. The energy is still high at 1284. This is the best window, hands down.

Monday the 7th is still rideable, but the quality drops. The morning has 6ft of SSW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore from the WNW, introducing a bit of chop. The energy is still moderate at 1109, but it’s not as clean as Sunday. By the afternoon, the wind picks up and the chop gets worse.

From Tuesday the 8th onwards, it’s a long grind. The swell drops off hard, and the wind turns mostly cross-onshore or onshore, which is going to chop up whatever small waves are left. There’s a brief flicker of hope on Thursday the 10th with a very long-period 17-second swell from the SW, but it’s only 3ft and the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s marginal at best. The energy drops to moderate levels in the 400-700 range.

Honestly, from Tuesday through to the end of the forecast on the 21st of September, it’s a tough stretch. There’s a lot of swell in the 2ft to 3ft range, with periods that are either too short or too long for the conditions, and the wind is never really in our favour. The energy levels are weak for most of the second week. For a consistent spot like this, it’s a real bummer of a run. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of those days.

So, the call is easy: Sunday the 6th is your day. Get out there in the morning for the best of it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
2
3
1
2
1
0
2
0
1
2
2
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
S
14
1.5
S
13
1.5
S
12
1.8
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
12
1.5
SSW
11
1.4
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
10
1.1
SSW
10
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.9
SW
17
1
SW
17
1
SW
16
1
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1225
737
694
1025
820
534
653
251
245
214
278
419
547
502
483
400
365
309
248
164
160
Wind (km/h)
15
NNW
20
NNE
15
NW
15
WNW
20
WNW
5
NW
10
W
20
WNW
0
NNE
15
W
10
SSW
10
SSE
10
SSW
5
SSW
10
SSE
15
S
10
S
10
SSE
15
S
10
S
15
SE
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
5:56PM1.74m
7:51AM1.26m
6:54PM1.85m
8:19AM1.38m
7:43PM1.91m
8:47AM1.49m
8:28PM1.91m
9:17AM1.59m
9:10PM1.83m
9:46AM1.66m
9:50PM1.71m
10:15AM1.70m
10:31PM1.55m
Low Tide
11:51AM0.84m
1:25AM-0.13m
12:54PM0.67m
2:04AM-0.19m
1:43PM0.49m
2:39AM-0.20m
2:28PM0.34m
3:11AM-0.15m
3:10PM0.23m
3:40AM-0.05m
3:52PM0.16m
4:08AM0.08m
4:33PM0.14m
4:33AM0.24m
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
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>
6:26
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:30
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:08
7:07
7:06
7:05
7:04
7:01
7:00
 mm
1
2
Temp °C
24
25
25
28
28
26
30
29
27
29
28
24
26
26
25
25
25
23
24
24
22
Feels °C
25
24
26
29
27
25
30
27
28
30
29
25
27
27
27
26
26
25
24
25
24
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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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