Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
23.3° C
3.9° 

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 31 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with 813 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s 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 (Jul 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. 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 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase. Looking at the next 16 days, it’s a flat spell. There’s a little energy on the horizon, but nothing that’s going to get us fired up.

The only break in the picture is Cottons Point. It’s a reef and point, consistent, and it picks up swell from the SW. The water is 74°F at the start, which is way warmer than usual for this time of year – a real bonus.

The first real chance of a wave hits on Thursday, July 30th. We’ve got a 1.0ft to 1ft swell from the SSW, with a long 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell, full of energy, with a combined energy of 798. It’s not big, but that long period will push through. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW at 10 km/h, keeping things a bit bumpy. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve got early on.

Friday, July 31st, is more of the same – a clean-looking morning with 1ft of SSW swell, 14-second period, light cross-onshore. The energy is still moderate at 647. Again, not a standout, just a chance to get wet.

Then things drop off. From Saturday, August 1st through to the end of the first week, the swell fades fast. The wind does turn offshore from the SW and SSW, which is a big positive, but the swell height drops to 0.5ft or less. The energy drops into the low 100s and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions” for days on end.

There’s a long gap here. From the 1st of August all the way through the 14th, nearly every session is rated poor. You’re looking at a solid two-week stretch of nothing doing, with only a few marginal morning windows on the 5th and 14th of August that barely register.

The only flicker of something different comes on Friday, August 7th, with a 0.8ft SSW swell and a very long 19-second period. That’s a long period groundswell, and the energy climbs to 482. The wind is offshore from the SW at 15 km/h. For a reef and point like Cottons, that period could produce some well-shaped, clean lines. But the swell is still tiny, and given the poor ratings, it’s hard to call it a standout. Still, if you’re desperate, that’s the morning to look for. The wind is clean, and the water is still warm.

Ultimately, the best on offer is the initial push on July 30th and 31st. If you’re a beginner, the 1ft on Friday morning is fine. The real standout is that 19-second period groundswell on August 7th – it’s the most interesting swell of the whole window, but don’t expect much size. For the rest of it, you’re looking at a lot of flat, light wind days, and with the swell so small and the energy so low, it’s less about surfing and more about enjoying the warm water. The conditions are clean, but there’s just no push.

It’s a quiet stretch. The forecast is reliable for the first few days, but the long-range stuff in the second week is a lot less certain. Keep an eye on it, but don’t book the time off work just yet.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
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)
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1.3
S
14
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.5
S
13
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
348
468
674
588
322
265
249
289
84
91
88
83
80
91
91
84
77
75
162
127
125
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
SSE
10
WSW
10
W
5
WSW
10
SW
10
SSW
5
SSE
10
SSW
10
SW
5
S
10
SSW
10
SW
5
S
10
SSW
10
SSW
5
S
10
WSW
15
SW
5
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
10:49AM1.24m
9:59PM1.76m
11:17AM1.29m
10:31PM1.68m
11:45AM1.34m
11:06PM1.55m
12:14PM1.39m
11:46PM1.37m
12:48PM1.44m
00:36AM1.16m
1:29PM1.48m
1:54AM0.95m
2:22PM1.52m
4:05AM0.83m
Low Tide
3:58PM0.58m
5:03AM-0.09m
4:35PM0.55m
5:29AM-0.02m
5:17PM0.54m
5:54AM0.09m
6:05PM0.53m
6:19AM0.23m
7:05PM0.52m
6:45AM0.38m
8:25PM0.49m
7:15AM0.55m
10:07PM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:51
7:51
7:50
7:49
7:47
7:46
7:45
 mm
Temp °C
23
24
21
25
25
24
26
26
23
25
25
23
25
25
22
24
24
22
25
25
22
Feels °C
24
24
23
26
25
26
27
26
24
26
26
25
26
26
24
25
24
24
26
25
24
  • Map Icons:
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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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