Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Cape Mendocino area over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, this is a tough run. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing special, and the real story is the wind. The first few days are a tease, but the potential is there for a couple of windows if you’re patient.

The first session worth paddling out for is Tuesday, July 21st. The afternoon at Cape Mendocino is where it’s at. We’ve got a clean 2 ft swell from the SW riding a very long 14-second period. The wind is a light NNE breeze, so it’s actually offshore and clean. The combined energy is moderate at 324. It’s not big, but for a Tuesday afternoon with clear skies and glassy conditions, it’s gonna be a fun little wave. The crowd factor is "sometimes" so you might have some company, but it’s not a circus.

Tuesday morning is a similar story – a touch more size at 2.3 ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period, but the wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 10 km/h. It’s still rideable, but the afternoon is the cleaner pick.

Now, here’s the kicker. We get a pulse of energy later in the week. Friday, July 24th, in the afternoon is your standout. The swell jumps to 3 ft from the SSW, but the period goes absolutely ballistic at 24 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 1120. The wind is a light 5 km/h onshore, but for that kind of energy, it’s still worth a look. A long-period SSW swell like this will be better at a reef or point break, not so much a straight beach break. Cape Mendocino is a fairly consistent spot, so it could handle it. Keep in mind, with a period that long, the sets will be far apart, but the paddle out will be easier.

Then Saturday, July 25th, keeps the size up. Morning sees 3.9 ft from the SSW with a 21-second period, but the wind is a cross-onshore from the NW at 15 km/h. The energy is very strong at 1518, but it’ll be a bit choppy. The afternoon cleans up a little with a cross-shore wind, but the swell drops to 3.3 ft.

After that, it’s a grim outlook. From Sunday, July 26th, all the way through to Wednesday, August 5th, the wind howls out of the north at 25 to 35 km/h. The swell is all over the place, mostly small, and the wave state is described as "lumpy cross-chop" and "poor." The combined energy drops off a cliff, getting down to just 119 by August 3rd. That’s weak. There’s a gap of nearly two weeks with no real recommendations. For this area, a blank run like this is more normal than not during the summer.

The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

If you’re a beginner, the Tuesday afternoon session is your best bet. Anything over 5 ft doesn’t show up, so you’re safe. If you’re an expert, that Friday the 24th with the 24-second period is the only thing that gets the blood pumping, but that wind is a bummer. Honestly, for the majority of this forecast, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the consistent strong cross-shore winds and small, choppy waves.

Stay patient, lads. The ocean will turn around.

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