Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cottons, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate SSE wind around 12mph.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 7s and 8mph from the SE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
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Cottons Point is the northernmost break in the Trestles complex, a fickle left-hand point break over cobblestone that transforms from a mushy, forgiving wall into a high-performance barrel wave during large, long-period south swells. Most days it's ideal for cutbacks and flow surfing; under the right conditions it produces some of the best lefts in Orange County. Less crowded than Lowers due to its fickleness.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cottons is 2-3ft with a 15s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cottons is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 15s, a 1.4ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft S tertiary swell at 12s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Cottons is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cottons works best with a S swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Cottons. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Cottons is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cottons Point is the northernmost break in the Trestles complex, a fickle left-hand point break over cobblestone that transforms from a mushy, forgiving wall into a high-performance barrel wave during large, long-period south swells. Most days it's ideal for cutbacks and flow surfing; under the right conditions it produces some of the best lefts in Orange County. Less crowded than Lowers due to its fickleness.
The prime season at Cottons is summer, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Cottons include cobblestone bottom, strong currents, long walk in, crowds on good days. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cottons forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
