Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 932 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 15s. 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 1.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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+) | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here.
Well, we've got a pretty quiet stretch ahead for Cottons Point. This reef and point break is usually a solid bet when the swell lines up, but for the next week or so, it's looking like a real waiting game. The water temperature is sitting at 72°, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's a pretty notable anomaly, so you can leave the steamer at home.
The next few days, from Wednesday afternoon the 26th of August right through to the end of the month, are mostly a write-off. We've got small, weak swell, mostly under 4ft, and the wind is stuck in a cross-on shore direction, leaving the surface choppy and messy. The combined energy is low, peaking at just 686 on the Saturday morning, and the scores are all marginal at best. It's one of those periods where you're better off doing something else.
We do get a little spike of energy on Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning shows a 6ft SSW swell, with a period of 14 seconds, and combined energy of 1520. That's a moderate energy pulse, but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it's a bit of a tease. It's not the cleanest, but for those keen, it's the best of a pretty average run. After that, we drop back into smaller, weaker waves for the rest of the first week of September.
The second week doesn't offer much reprieve, with a similar pattern of small, inconsistent swells. The most interesting window appears on Wednesday the 9th of September, with a 5ft SSW swell and a 13-second period, but again, the wind is light and cross-onshore, so expect some texture on the face. The consistent trend here is that the swell direction is mostly from the SSW, which is a reasonable direction for Cottons, but without the right wind, it's hard to get excited.
Honestly, the outlook is pretty flat. We're not seeing any real standouts. The best you can hope for are those marginal, clean-ish windows with a bit of energy, like Thursday the 3rd of September morning, but even then, it's a gamble. If you're absolutely desperate, you can get wet, but the camera's staying in the bag.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 272 | 333 | 231 | 270 | 351 | 325 | 932 | 594 | 733 | 706 | 537 | 405 | 325 | 261 | 300 | 282 | 311 | 376 | 319 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:37PM1.78m | 9:38AM1.37m | 9:09PM1.77m | 10:01AM1.45m | 9:43PM1.71m | 10:26AM1.52m | 10:18PM1.61m | 10:52AM1.58m | 10:57PM1.45m | 11:20AM1.62m | 11:42PM1.26m | 11:53AM1.63m | 00:41AM1.06m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:31AM-0.06m | 3:09PM0.45m | 3:55AM-0.04m | 3:45PM0.38m | 4:19AM0.02m | 4:23PM0.33m | 4:43AM0.13m | 5:04PM0.29m | 5:06AM0.26m | 5:52PM0.28m | 5:29AM0.41m | 6:51PM0.30m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 272 | 333 | 231 | 154 | 351 | 54 | 932 | 594 | 733 | 706 | 537 | 405 | 325 | 261 | 300 | 282 | 311 | 376 | 319 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 5 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 171 | 169 | 132 | 270 | 79 | 147 | 29 | 66 | 50 | 141 | 108 | 60 | 80 | 212 | 158 | 118 | 44 | 17 | 111 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 14 | W 9 | SSW 19 | S 8 | S 8 | W 9 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 12 | W 7 | SSW 19 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 4 |
| kJ | 7 | 72 | 71 | 116 | 83 | 325 | 33 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 35 | 52 | 77 | 43 | 35 | 13 | 50 | 49 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | W 5 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | — | 14 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 65 | 87 | 65 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 78 | 87 | 30 | 87 | 87 | 4 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 87 |
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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