Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
21.4° C
2.4° 

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 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with 980 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 16s. 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 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM. 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 (Mon 20th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Mon 20th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 13s
Most Powerful11PM (Sun 19th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Cottons Point over the next couple of weeks.

First off, the water is sitting at 71°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a good 4°F above the average, so you’ll be comfy in a springsuit or even a shorty.

Honestly, the next few days are pretty flat and messy. Wednesday the 15th through to Saturday the 18th have tiny swell, mostly around 1ft to 3ft, and the wind is either cross-on or just light onshore. The wave energy is weak, hanging around 210 to 564. It’s not really worth paddling out for – save your energy.

We start to see a bit of life on Sunday the 19th. The swell bumps up to 5ft in the morning from the SSW with a period of 13 seconds, and the wind is light and offshore. Wave energy jumps to 974 (moderate). It’s still marginal, but that offshore breeze will clean it up. The afternoon gets a little bigger at 5ft from the S, but the wind swings cross-on and it gets a bit choppy. This is the first real window of the outlook, but it’s not a standout.

The real standout is Friday the 24th. That morning we’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the S, period of 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell – and light offshore wind. The combined energy is a strong 2704, so there’s plenty of punch. By afternoon it’s 7ft from the S with the same 15-second period and still light offshore. That’s a big, clean day. However, at over 7ft, this is expert territory, especially on a reef and point break like Cottons Point. The long period (15 seconds) means it’ll be lining up beautifully down the point, but expect long lulls between sets. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The day before, Thursday the 23rd, is also worth a mention – 6ft from the S in the afternoon with 13 seconds and light cross-on wind. Wave energy is 1226, so it’s a solid session for strong intermediates.

After that, it drops back down. Saturday the 25th is still 7ft but the wind picks up to a moderate cross-on, making it choppy and less appealing. Sunday the 26th through to the end of the period sees the swell drop to 3ft to 4ft, with mostly light cross-on winds. The wave energy hovers between 448 and 1024 – nothing to write home about. It’s marginal, small, and generally not worth the drive unless you’re desperate.

So, the pick of the fortnight is absolutely Friday the 24th at Cottons Point. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too average.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
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
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.4
SW
19
0.5
SW
19
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
1
S
14
1.6
SSW
13
1.5
S
13
1.6
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
107
96
161
122
122
125
181
103
136
366
379
394
929
771
867
403
506
373
612
474
474
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
WSW
10
SSE
20
S
20
S
20
SE
20
S
15
S
15
SSE
10
SSW
15
SW
5
S
10
WSW
15
WSW
5
SE
10
SW
10
SW
5
SW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
S
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
11:06AM1.29m
10:19PM2.02m
11:47AM1.34m
11:06PM1.86m
12:29PM1.38m
11:54PM1.64m
1:12PM1.41m
00:44AM1.39m
1:58PM1.43m
1:45AM1.14m
2:48PM1.44m
3:09AM0.93m
3:42PM1.45m
Low Tide
4:12PM0.50m
5:29AM-0.35m
5:04PM0.49m
6:07AM-0.21m
5:59PM0.50m
6:44AM-0.03m
7:01PM0.53m
7:19AM0.16m
8:13PM0.55m
7:54AM0.37m
9:43PM0.52m
8:31AM0.55m
11:24PM0.42m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
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>
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
8:00
8:00
7:59
7:59
7:58
7:57
 mm
Temp °C
24
25
23
24
24
21
22
22
20
22
22
20
22
23
20
22
22
21
23
24
22
Feels °C
25
26
24
25
23
21
21
22
20
22
22
21
22
23
21
22
21
22
24
24
23
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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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