Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 326 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Cape Mendocino. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, it’s a tough one to get excited about for paddle surfing. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for quality waves.
The first couple of days are a no-go. Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th have some small swell, but the wind is all over the place – cross or cross-on – and the conditions are described as poor. You’re looking at a weak 3 ft to 3 ft of swell from the SSW, with moderate wave energy (around 509 to 512). The water is running a bit colder than normal at 55°, which is about 3° off the average, so you’ll feel that nip.
Friday the 21st through to Monday the 24th are a real grind. The swell drops off and the wind stays messy. There’s a tiny window on Monday the 24th morning where the wind eases off to a light breeze, but it’s still cross-on and the swell is only 2 ft from the SW, with a long period of 18 seconds. That’s a groundswell with a lot of energy (361) but it’s going to be straight and weak at the beach. It’s a marginal call at best.
The second week, from the 25th of August onward, doesn’t get any better. The wind is a constant problem, blowing cross or cross-on from the NNW or N, mostly moderate to fresh. The swell stays small, under 3 ft, and the conditions are consistently poor. There’s a bit of a jump in energy around the 29th and 30th, with the swell hitting 4 ft from the SSW and a very long period of 18 seconds, giving us strong wave energy (816 on the 29th morning). But the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-shore, which will tear it to pieces. That setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than someone with a paddle.
Honestly, there’s nothing here to get excited about. The winds are just relentless, and the swell never lines up with clean conditions. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a real bummer of a run. We’ll have to wait for the next system to change the pattern.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | S 13 | NW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 305 | 314 | 233 | 223 | 236 | 156 | 139 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 94 | 301 | 164 | 199 | 255 | 192 | 188 | 326 | 214 | 161 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:39PM1.68m | 7:24AM1.13m | 5:31PM1.65m | 8:53AM1.20m | 6:30PM1.65m | 9:48AM1.27m | 7:30PM1.67m | 10:27AM1.34m | 8:25PM1.72m | 10:58AM1.38m | 9:14PM1.77m | 11:24AM1.42m | 9:58PM1.81m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:23AM0.29m | 11:45AM0.99m | 1:32AM0.24m | 1:04PM1.05m | 2:33AM0.18m | 2:14PM1.05m | 3:24AM0.11m | 3:09PM1.01m | 4:07AM0.05m | 3:54PM0.95m | 4:43AM0.01m | 4:33PM0.87m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | S 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 186 | 242 | 225 | 210 | 164 | 128 | 110 | 74 | 62 | 52 | 81 | 231 | 164 | 638 | 497 | 339 | 188 | 103 | 214 | 161 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NNW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 305 | 314 | 233 | 223 | 61 | 156 | 139 | 78 | 54 | 67 | 32 | 74 | 76 | 124 | 255 | 153 | 146 | 326 | 126 | 87 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | — | SW 18 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 13 | W 15 | W 14 |
| kJ | 18 | — | 54 | 58 | 236 | 55 | 109 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 94 | 29 | 30 | 199 | 106 | 192 | 181 | 89 | 106 | 93 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | NNW 2 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 7 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 270 | 163 | 88 | 88 | — | 61 | 86 | — | 1 | 110 | 161 | 301 | 517 | — | — | — | — | — | 116 | 94 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 40 | 151 | 134 | 51 | 151 | 151 | 0 | 59 | 211 | 54 | 244 | 51 | 21 | 170 | 51 | 40 | 149 | 151 | 40 |
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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