
Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 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 0.5m 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5AM. 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+) | 8PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cottons Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down this stretch.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a flat, frustrating run for the most part. We’ve got only one main spot in the mix, Cottons Point, and it’s a reef and point setup that’s exposed to a SW swell. The water’s sitting at 71°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus if you’re in the water.
The problem is, for the first several days, the surf is tiny and messy. Starting Saturday the 12th, we’re looking at a weak 2ft SW swell with a period around 14 seconds, but the wind is a cross-onshore from the south at 9 mph, making it a choppy, poor surf situation. The combined wave energy is only 265, which is weak. That carries into Sunday – similar story, even smaller surf. You’d be wasting your time.
Monday the 14th has a brief spike of a 3ft W swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and with a moderate cross-onshore breeze, it’s just a messy, gutless wave. Not worth a paddle. The whole first week is essentially a write-off for decent waves.
Things start to change around Wednesday the 16th. The swell direction shifts to a more favourable SSW, with heights around 3ft. Now, the period is a solid 17 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. That’s the kind of long-period stuff that will wrap nicely around this point. The combined energy bumps up to 412 (moderate), and the winds go light and variable, sometimes crossing onshore but very light.
The standout window is definitely the weekend of the 19th and 20th of September. On Saturday the 19th morning, we have a 3ft SW swell with 18-second period, combined energy at 515 (moderate to strong), and glassy, offshore wind from the SW at just 3 mph. That’s about as clean as it gets. The next day, Sunday the 20th, looks even better – morning sees a 3ft SW swell, still 18 seconds, combined energy jumping to 544, and again glassy offshore conditions. The afternoon gets a 3ft swell with energy hitting 628 (moderate to strong), with light offshore wind. This is the pick of the whole 16-day period. The surf will be small, mellow, and exceptionally clean. Given the long period (18 sec) and the point setup, expect long lulls between sets but a nice, lined-up wave when they come. It’s a reef and point, so that long-period energy will wrap in nicely and not just close out. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it won’t be a circus.
After that peak, we slide back into mediocrity. From the 21st onwards, the swell drops to 2ft or 2ft, periods shortening again, and the wind tends back to a side-onshore or onshore direction. There is a notable period around the 23rd and 24th where mornings have light offshore winds, but the swell is only 3ft with a period dropping to 15-14 seconds and energy fading back under 400. It’s marginal, not terrible, but not a standout either.
So to sum up: don’t bother with the first week. Get out for a session on Saturday the 19th or Sunday the 20th when it’s clean, offshore, and the point is working on that nice, long period groundswell. The rest is for the kite crew or a long walk on the beach.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 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 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
211 | 164 | 160 | 89 | 130 | 156 | 116 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 127 | 114 | 386 | 347 | 291 | 280 | 246 | 242 | 303 | 303 | 234 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 2:20PM1.29m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:29PM0.35m | |||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | W 6 |
211 | 164 | 160 | 58 | 61 | 156 | 116 | 52 | 59 | 57 | 57 | 88 | 386 | 347 | 291 | 280 | 246 | 242 | 183 | 303 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
25 | 15 | 20 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 108 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 122 | 21 | 11 | 30 | 61 | 147 | 46 | 57 | 303 | 141 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | 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 | W 5 | S 9 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 21 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 19 |
29 | 29 | 14 | 58 | 130 | 129 | 44 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 127 | 114 | 15 | 5 | 27 | 160 | 162 | 156 | 54 | 34 | 234 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | W 3 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 12 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 87 | 0 | 65 | 87 | 87 | 82 | 87 | 65 | 67 | 87 | 0 | 82 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 11 | 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.










