Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s shaping up for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.

Right now, and for the first few days, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. There’s some small swell in the water, but it’s getting chopped up by cross-shore winds and the quality just isn’t there for a proper paddle. You’ll see surf around 3 ft from the SSE, but with moderate cross-breezes and lumpy conditions, it’s more of a session for the hardcore or a gear-check day. The combined energy is moderate at best (691). We’re looking at a string of days where the scores are low, so don’t get your hopes up for anything clean.

Now, if you’re patient, the first real standout window arrives on Sunday the 13th of September in the morning. The swell jumps up to 7 ft from the NW, with a short period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps into strong territory (839). Now, 7 ft is getting a bit big for beginners – this one’s for the experienced crew. The wind is still cross-shore from the N at 15 mph, so it won’t be glassy, but that’s the best size we’ll see for a while. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so it’s worth a look if you’ve got the chops. The water temp is running about average for this time of year, so no thermal surprises.

After that pulse on the 13th, the swell drops off again. By Tuesday the 15th, we’re back to small, weak surf with a short-period NW windswell and cross-onshore wind. Conditions start looking more interesting for a kite session than a paddle, honestly. The combined energy drops right back (432), so it’s a waiting game again.

The rest of the second week stays pretty quiet. There’s a few marginal moments on the 21st and 22nd of September where the combined energy climbs back up (800-926) with 3 ft to 3 ft of SW swell and a long 18-second period. That long period means it’s a proper groundswell, so think cleaner lines but wider gaps between sets. A spot like this, exposed to the SW, could show some shape. Still, the wind stays cross-shore, so it’s not a slam dunk. It’s promising, but with it being more than a week out, keep an eye on it.

So, overall: the best bet for a bit of size is Sunday morning, September 13th at Cape Mendocino. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only time the numbers stack up for a proper session. After that, keep watching the 21st and 22nd. For now, the board’s staying in the car a bit longer.

Rusty.

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