Cottons Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.39° N 117.60° W

Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cottons Point sea temperature is
24.1° C
4.5° 

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 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 438 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Sat 8th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 18s
Best Surf 5AM (Sat 8th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 18s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 8th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a long look ahead for the next sixteen days. Honestly, it’s a flat spell with a few flickers of life, but not much to get the heart racing. The only break on the radar is Cottons Point, a reef and point setup that’s consistent and exposed to the SW swell. The water’s sitting at 75°F – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a weird bonus if you’re just having a paddle.

We’ve got a stretch of weak surf right from the start. Friday the 7th morning kicks off with a tiny 2ft SSW swell, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, and the whole thing feels marginal. The combined wave energy is moderate (449), but it’s not doing you any favours. That morning window is the best of a bad bunch – it’s the only one with a half-decent score, and even then, it’s not great. The rest of Friday and all of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are a write-off: poor conditions, choppy, or just messy winds. The swell is small, under 3ft, and the period is long (15-19 seconds), which is a proper groundswell, but at this size, it’s just not breaking with any punch.

The first real standout – and I mean the only one worth a look – is Friday morning the 7th. That 2ft SSW swell with a 19-second period is coming in clean with a light WSW breeze. The energy is moderate (449), and it’s the only time the wind is light enough to keep things tidy. It’s a small-wave day, best for logs or a mid-length, and the long period means the sets will be spaced out, making it easy to get out the back. The break is a reef and point, which handles long-period swell well, so it won’t just close out. That morning is your window.

After that, it’s a long, grim run. Saturday the 8th through to the end of the second week is mostly poor surf, with gusts of 9 mph cross-onshore and choppy faces. There’s a tiny bump in size on the 15th and 16th, with swell hitting 4ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore, and the quality is garbage. The combined energy climbs to 762, which is moderate, but it’s wasted on messy conditions. The long-period swell (14-16 seconds) is there, but without clean wind, it’s just a wash.

For beginners, the surf never gets above 5ft, so it’s not too big, but it’s also not clean enough to learn on. The period is mostly long, which means the waves will have shape, but the cross-onshore wind will make them crumble. The 22nd of August shows a slight uptick in energy (581) with a light offshore wind in the morning, but it’s still marginal. Honestly, if you’re keen, Friday morning the 7th is the only call. The rest of the run is a waiting game. Keep your eyes on the charts – it tends not to stay this flat for long.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
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
2
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
1
2
1
1
2
0
1
2
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
19
0.6
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.5
SW
20
0.5
SW
19
0.5
SSW
13
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
329
243
348
344
295
362
309
305
301
207
186
184
95
252
316
195
264
261
258
295
280
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
15
W
5
WNW
15
W
15
W
5
WSW
10
SW
15
SW
5
S
10
SW
10
SW
5
SW
10
SSW
5
SW
0
SW
15
SSW
10
SW
5
SSE
15
SSW
10
SW
0
S
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
High Tide
4:49PM1.67m
7:33AM1.00m
5:58PM1.80m
8:13AM1.11m
6:57PM1.93m
8:47AM1.21m
7:49PM2.03m
9:21AM1.31m
8:37PM2.07m
9:55AM1.40m
9:22PM2.03m
10:28AM1.47m
10:06PM1.92m
Low Tide
9:36AM0.82m
00:51AM0.02m
11:25AM0.83m
1:42AM-0.16m
12:41PM0.74m
2:27AM-0.29m
1:39PM0.62m
3:07AM-0.35m
2:30PM0.50m
3:44AM-0.35m
3:17PM0.40m
4:19AM-0.29m
4:04PM0.34m
4:52AM-0.17m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:44
7:43
7:42
7:40
7:39
7:38
7:37
 mm
Temp °C
24
25
22
25
26
23
26
26
23
25
25
23
25
24
22
24
24
21
23
23
20
Feels °C
25
26
23
25
25
24
27
26
24
25
25
25
26
24
24
24
24
22
23
23
21
  • 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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