Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
19.6° C
0.8° 

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 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 481 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period with SSW 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 09) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 5PM (Thu 9th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s

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


Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next 16 days for the one spot we’ve got on the radar: Cottons Point.

First off, the water temp is sittin’ around 67°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year – nothin’ wild there.

The overall pattern for the next two and a half weeks is a bit of a slow burn. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy swell and cross-onshore breezes that’ll keep things pretty average. Honestly, the first week and a half looks like a write-off for any decent waves. From Thursday the 9th through to about the middle of the week starting the 14th, it’s all knee-high or smaller, choppy, and mostly poor surf conditions. There’s a long run of days with scores that are just not worth paddlin’ out for. The combined energy is weak, mostly sittin’ in the low to mid hundreds – we’re talkin’ 238 to 641 (weak to moderate energy) – and the wind is either cross-on or onshore, just messin’ up what little swell there is. You’ll see a little bump on the 12th and 13th with light onshore winds, but it’s still only about 2ft to 3ft of swell, and the period is short enough that it won’t have any punch. Not your day.

The real standout – and I mean the *only* standout – is the weekend of the 19th and 20th of July. This is where the charts get interestin’. On the 19th, Sunday morning, we’ve got a solid S swell building to about 4ft, but the combined energy jumps to 1658 (strong energy). By Sunday afternoon, it’s pumpin’ up to 6ft from the S, with 2412 energy (strong to very strong). Then Monday the 20th morning, it’s peakin’ around 7ft from the S, with 2177 energy. That’s a proper groundswell with a period of 15 to 17 seconds – that’s long-period energy, so it’ll be powerful and have good shape. However, at 7ft, this is gettin’ into expert territory. Beginners should stay well clear. The wind is light and mostly onshore or cross-on, but with those light breezes, it’ll be clean enough. Because it’s a long-period S swell, Cottons Point, which is a reef and point setup, should handle it well, givin’ you lined-up waves rather than the close-outs you’d get at a beach break. The only downside is the wind is not fully offshore, but it’s light, so it’s still the best window we’ve got.

After that peak, the swell drops quickly through the 21st and 22nd, back to waist-high mush. So, if you’re lookin’ for a window, mark the 19th and 20th of July. That’s your shot. The rest of the forecast is a wait-and-see.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
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
2
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
0
2
1
1
2
1
0
2
0
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.8
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
13
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.4
SW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
545
481
481
439
411
405
344
358
210
316
289
277
312
187
213
101
154
194
107
96
161
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
10
SSW
5
SSE
15
S
15
SSW
10
SSE
15
S
10
SSW
5
SSE
10
SW
10
SSW
5
SE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
S
10
W
20
WNW
0
SW
10
WSW
5
S
5
NE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
5:13PM1.68m
7:10AM0.93m
6:07PM1.82m
8:12AM1.02m
7:01PM1.95m
9:01AM1.10m
7:53PM2.06m
9:44AM1.17m
8:43PM2.11m
10:25AM1.23m
9:32PM2.10m
11:06AM1.29m
10:19PM2.02m
Low Tide
10:15AM0.62m
00:56AM0.05m
11:25AM0.69m
1:49AM-0.16m
12:32PM0.69m
2:38AM-0.33m
1:33PM0.66m
3:23AM-0.44m
2:28PM0.60m
4:07AM-0.47m
3:20PM0.54m
4:49AM-0.44m
4:12PM0.50m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:50
5:50
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:01
8:01
8:01
8:01
8:00
8:00
8:00
 mm
1
Temp °C
20
21
19
22
22
19
22
22
20
21
23
21
24
24
22
25
26
24
26
29
27
Feels °C
19
21
20
21
21
20
22
22
20
22
23
22
24
23
23
25
26
25
27
31
28
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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