Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
11.4° C
2.8° 

Cape Mendocino surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SW swell with 316 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Mendocino this week:

The surf forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 0.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Thu 13th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Fri 14th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 8s
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 12th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the pipe for Cape Mendocino. I'll be straight with you, it's a lean run for the next couple of weeks. We've got a lot of wind and not much wave to show for it, but there are a couple of windows where things might just come together.

We kick off from Friday the 7th of August, and honestly, for the first six days, it's a write-off. The wind is screaming from the north and north-northwest at 19 mph, and it's cross-shore all the way. The swell is tiny, barely 1 ft to 2 ft, and the water is a brutal 53°F – that's 5°F colder than usual, which is seriously unusual for this time of year. The combined energy is weak, sitting around 324 to 250, and it's just a lumpy, choppy mess. Not worth getting wet for.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Thursday the 13th of August. The wind finally drops, and by Thursday afternoon it goes glassy. We're still looking at small swell of 2 ft from the SW, but with a period of 16 seconds, that's a long-period groundswell. The energy is still moderate (222), but with glassy conditions, it's a rare chance for a clean, slow session. Friday the 14th looks even better, with glassy conditions all day and the swell period stretching to 19 seconds. The energy bumps up to 352. This is a true standout for clean, small waves. It's a very long period, so the sets will be few and far between, but the shape at a point break like this should be nice.

Saturday the 15th of August sees a slight bump in size to 3 ft, but the wind swings cross-onshore, taking the shine off. The energy is up at 632, but those light onshore ripples will mess with the face. The next real curtain-raiser doesn't come until Wednesday the 19th of August. We get a proper pulse of swell from the NW, hitting 6 ft with a period of 13 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 1678, which is strong. Now, this is a big one for experts only. At 6 ft, it's too much for beginners, and the cross-shore wind at 16 mph will keep it a bit lumpy. It's a powerful, raw day, but the quality is marginal.

After that, the swell fades again back into the 2 ft to 3 ft range with those persistent northerly cross-shore breezes through to the end of the forecast on the 22nd of August. So, the pick of the whole period is definitely Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th of August. It's not big, but it's clean, and that's a rare thing in this outlook.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Tue night, light winds from the NW by Thu morning).

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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
131
109
235
240
146
198
196
167
165
163
134
95
115
209
207
137
173
171
201
193
Wind (km/h)
30
N
25
N
30
NNW
25
N
30
N
30
NNW
30
N
35
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
30
NNW
25
N
35
N
35
N
30
N
25
N
5
NW
5
NW
5
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
6:32PM1.91m
9:34AM1.24m
7:36PM1.98m
10:27AM1.35m
8:39PM2.04m
11:10AM1.45m
9:39PM2.09m
11:49AM1.53m
10:34PM2.09m
12:26PM1.60m
11:26PM2.05m
1:02PM1.66m
00:17AM1.94m
Low Tide
2:27AM-0.06m
1:45PM1.00m
3:27AM-0.20m
2:55PM0.97m
4:20AM-0.29m
3:57PM0.89m
5:08AM-0.34m
4:52PM0.79m
5:51AM-0.32m
5:45PM0.68m
6:32AM-0.24m
6:36PM0.58m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:24
8:23
8:22
8:22
8:20
8:19
8:17
 mm
Temp °C
16
14
17
18
15
16
17
14
17
17
15
17
17
15
17
18
15
15
16
14
Feels °C
11
10
13
13
11
11
12
9
12
12
11
12
11
11
12
13
11
14
16
13
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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 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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