Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.6° C
3.8° 

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 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 629 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period. 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 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) 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 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sat 15th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Best Surf 8AM (Sat 15th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 18s
Most Powerful11AM (Sat 15th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 17s

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


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
18
2.1
NW
8
0.6
SSW
16
2.2
NW
8
1.9
NW
8
1.6
NW
7
0.7
SW
15
1.4
NW
7
0.7
SSW
18
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
1.7
NW
7
0.8
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
207
478
173
603
418
255
232
212
280
629
505
539
519
512
334
400
334
330
284
249
226
Wind (km/h)
30
NNW
25
N
30
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNW
15
N
10
NW
20
NNW
15
NNE
20
NNW
20
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
25
N
15
N
15
NNW
25
NNW
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
15
NNW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
12:26PM1.60m
11:26PM2.05m
1:02PM1.66m
00:17AM1.94m
1:36PM1.71m
1:08AM1.78m
2:09PM1.74m
2:00AM1.60m
2:43PM1.75m
2:58AM1.41m
3:18PM1.74m
4:06AM1.25m
3:55PM1.71m
Low Tide
5:45PM0.68m
6:32AM-0.24m
6:36PM0.58m
7:11AM-0.11m
7:28PM0.49m
7:49AM0.06m
8:19PM0.43m
8:26AM0.26m
9:14PM0.38m
9:04AM0.47m
10:12PM0.35m
9:47AM0.67m
11:15PM0.32m
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:26
6:26
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:19
8:17
8:15
8:15
8:14
8:12
8:10
 mm
Temp °C
16
16
15
14
15
14
15
16
14
15
15
14
15
16
14
15
16
13
15
15
13
Feels °C
12
12
12
11
13
11
14
14
11
12
12
11
13
13
11
13
13
9
11
11
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Cape Mendocino:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cape Mendocino surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest