
Surf Forecasts:
Cottons Point surf forecast from 8 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 Type | Time (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
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Cottons Point over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough run. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak surf with a lot of cross-onshore wind. The water is a very unusual 75°F for this time of year, over 7°F warmer than average, which is wild, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of push. The combined energy is mostly in the moderate range, between 199 and 722, but the quality just isn’t there for a proper paddle session.
The first few days are a write-off. From Friday 7th August right through to Wednesday 13th, we’ve got tiny swell, mostly around 2ft to 3ft, with a mix of cross-on and onshore wind. The period is long, hitting 15 to 20 seconds at times, which would normally be exciting, but the height is so small it’s barely breaking. The wind is a light breeze, but it’s coming from the wrong direction, making things choppy or messy. It’s a solid week of "poor surf conditions" with scores of 0.
We start seeing a little bump in energy around Friday 14th August, with the combined energy climbing to 571 and 647, but the swell is still only 2ft to 3ft. The wind stays a stubborn cross-onshore at 9 mph, so it’s still choppy. The following Saturday 15th August has the biggest swell of the whole outlook, hitting 4ft, but it’s coming from the SSW with a 16-second period, and that cross-onshore wind from the WNW is going to trash it. The energy hits 722, but it’s a messy, ugly wave. This stretch is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one.
The best window, if you can call it that, looks like the morning of Sunday 16th August. You’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with a 15-second period, and the wind is light WSW, which is onshore, but at only 6 mph, it might be glassy enough to find a clean face. The energy is moderate at 526, but this is the only time the conditions are even close to "marginal" rather than "poor." It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a bad bunch.
For the rest of the second week, from Monday 17th August onward, it’s back to tiny 2ft to 3ft swells, with light winds that are often onshore or cross-onshore. The energy drops off, and the consistency is there, but the size isn’t. It’s a frustrating wait.
In short, there’s no true standout session here. The best bet is the morning of Sunday 16th August for a slim chance at a clean, small wave. Otherwise, keep the board in the car and wait for the next system.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
243 | 348 | 344 | 295 | 362 | 309 | 242 | 301 | 207 | 186 | 184 | 95 | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 | 258 | 295 | 284 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-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 | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
111 | 348 | 344 | 295 | 362 | 309 | 242 | 301 | 207 | 156 | 154 | 95 | 252 | 316 | 195 | 264 | 306 | 258 | 295 | 284 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 20 |
243 | 124 | 81 | 56 | 83 | 8 | 30 | 58 | 106 | 186 | 184 | 75 | 83 | 55 | 46 | 61 | 59 | 58 | 30 | 149 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 15 | W 14 | W 12 | W 5 | W 13 | SW 21 | SW 21 | W 12 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 12 | W 5 | SW 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 72 | 71 | 11 | 39 | 33 | 51 | 75 | 44 | 44 | 45 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 42 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | — | W 4 | W 3 | — | — | W 5 | — | SSW 11 | WSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — |
4 | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | 8 | — | 12 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 88 | 135 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











