Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 643 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Mendocino this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Cape Mendocino.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – the next week and a half is a tough watch. The combination of strong cross-shore winds and messy, lumpy conditions means there’s nothing really rideable for the next several days. The swell is all over the place, but the wind just won’t give us a break. We’re looking at a solid gap of poor surf from Wednesday the 8th of July all the way through to basically the end of the second week. It’s a real bummer.
Now, the only glimmer of hope, and I mean the only one, shows up on Friday the 17th of July. We’ve got a solid pulse of NW swell pushing in, with heights around 8 ft. That’s a big one – definitely expert territory, not for the faint of heart. The combined energy is cranking at 1568, which is serious power. But here’s the catch: it’s a short-period swell, just 8 seconds, and the wind is still cross-shore at 16 mph. The forecast calls it “marginal,” and I’d have to agree. It’s not clean, but if you’re a seasoned local at Cape Mendocino, that might be the only window to get a few heavy, lumpy ones. The water temperature is running at 51°, which is a whopping 5° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so bring a thick suit and booties.
After that, it drops back down to nothing special. The rest of the 16-day run is dominated by poor conditions and cross-shore wind. Honestly, for the first week and a half, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the consistent cross-breeze and lumpy water.
Keep your eyes on that Friday the 17th, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 717 | 539 | 643 | 441 | 372 | 372 | 367 | 339 | 268 | 242 | 546 | 614 | 552 | 408 | 297 | 211 | 139 | 106 | 103 | 194 | 194 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 6:14PM1.80m | 8:06AM1.05m | 7:02PM1.89m | 9:33AM1.14m | 7:54PM1.98m | 10:39AM1.25m | 8:48PM2.06m | 11:31AM1.36m | 9:44PM2.12m | 12:18PM1.44m | 10:38PM2.15m | 1:01PM1.50m | 11:31PM2.12m | 1:42PM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:46AM0.16m | 12:47PM0.74m | 2:45AM-0.05m | 1:51PM0.86m | 3:40AM-0.25m | 2:56PM0.92m | 4:33AM-0.40m | 3:57PM0.93m | 5:23AM-0.49m | 4:56PM0.90m | 6:11AM-0.52m | 5:52PM0.84m | 6:56AM-0.48m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 |
 | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:46 | — | 8:45 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 717 | 539 | 643 | 441 | 372 | 372 | 367 | 339 | 161 | 203 | 249 | 170 | 173 | 178 | 93 | 118 | 139 | 62 | 69 | 96 | 75 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 19 | — | S 18 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 19 | S 17 | S 18 | WNW 16 | SSW 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 18 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 68 | 117 | — | 160 | — | 69 | 81 | 18 | 268 | 242 | 29 | 51 | 55 | 53 | 66 | 76 | 133 | 106 | 103 | 194 | 68 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | S 11 | S 20 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | WNW 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 37 | 45 | 70 | 67 | 62 | 93 | 194 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 10 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 8 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 216 | 489 | 530 | 544 | 572 | 197 | 111 | 241 | 50 | 105 | 546 | 614 | 552 | 408 | 297 | 211 | 125 | 11 | 11 | 145 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 45 | 316 | 437 | 54 | 151 | 437 | 51 | 262 | 436 | 59 | 149 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 211 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 437 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cape Mendocino Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cape Mendocino provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cape Mendocino can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cape Mendocino 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 (Cape Mendocino) 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 Cape Mendocino 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.
Cape Mendocino is 47 km (29 miles) from Eureka. If you plan a vacation in Humboldt County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Eureka. Eureka has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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