Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s is also forecast. 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Cape Mendocino for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough run. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off, with barely a session that’s worth paddling out for. The water’s sitting at a cool 56°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a decent wetsuit.
The pattern is grim: persistent cross-shore winds, mostly from the north and NNW, gusting anywhere from 9 to 19 mph, and the swell is almost always on the small side, under 4 ft, with a long period (16–18 seconds) that’s better suited to a point or reef than a beach break. The combined wave energy is moderate, peaking around 797 (on the 29th morning) but still falling into the “three-digit” moderate range. The wind is never truly offshore or glassy – it’s always cross or cross-onshore, so the surface is chopped and lumpy. There’s a long stretch from Wednesday 26 August right through to Tuesday 1 September where every single session is marked “poor surf conditions.” Not a single day in that block gets above a score of 1 out of 10.
The only flicker of something halfway interesting shows up on Friday 4 September morning, when the swell bumps up to 7 ft from the NW with a short period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1377 (strong). That’s solid, but it’s a short-period, windswell-type wave, and with a N cross-shore at 16 mph, it’ll be messy. At 7 ft, it’s pushing into the zone where only advanced surfers should be out. The afternoon of the 4th still has some energy (1127), but it drops to 3 ft from the SSW. Still, the wind is cross, so don’t expect clean shoulders.
After that, it’s back to the grind: weak, cross-shore slop from the 5th through to the 10th of September, with swell heights mostly under 4 ft and energy fading back to moderate. There’s a very marginal morning on Tuesday 8 September with a 2 ft, 19-second SW groundswell – that long period could give a little shape, but it’s tiny and the wind is gentle cross-shore. Not exactly a standout.
Honestly, there’s no real standout in this 16-day window. The only break we’re looking at is Cape Mendocino, rated for advanced surfers, fairly consistent in exposure, but with crowds “sometimes” around. If you’re desperate, the 4th of September morning is the biggest push, but it’s more of a kitesurfing setup with that strong wind and short-period swell. For a proper paddle session, you’re better off waiting for a change in the pattern. The forecasts can always shift, but right now, it’s a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | NW 10 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
203 | 201 | 183 | 135 | 171 | 164 | 339 | 281 | 315 | 759 | 751 | 627 | 733 | 554 | 334 | 330 | 325 | 163 | 154 | 177 | 199 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:48AM1.47m | 10:40PM1.82m | 12:11PM1.52m | 11:21PM1.80m | 12:34PM1.58m | 00:03AM1.74m | 12:58PM1.65m | 00:47AM1.65m | 1:25PM1.71m | 1:37AM1.53m | 1:55PM1.76m | 2:34AM1.40m | 2:29PM1.80m | 3:43AM1.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:10PM0.79m | 5:45AM-0.01m | 5:45PM0.69m | 6:14AM0.03m | 6:22PM0.59m | 6:43AM0.11m | 7:01PM0.47m | 7:13AM0.23m | 7:44PM0.37m | 7:46AM0.37m | 8:32PM0.27m | 8:22AM0.55m | 9:27PM0.20m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | SSW 13 | NW 10 | NW 9 |
203 | 201 | 183 | 113 | 128 | 143 | 339 | 281 | 315 | 759 | 751 | 627 | 733 | 554 | 334 | 330 | 325 | 63 | 154 | 177 | 199 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | W 12 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SW 13 | S 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 14 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
89 | 75 | 120 | 135 | 171 | 164 | 48 | 50 | 88 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 163 | 51 | 154 | 151 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 12 | W 7 | SW 15 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | W 11 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 21 | S 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 |
75 | 47 | 26 | 134 | 115 | 91 | 101 | 62 | 35 | 21 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 27 | 45 | 94 | 101 | 119 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | N 3 | N 3 | N 3 | N 3 | N 3 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | — | NW 7 | NNW 3 | — |
11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 135 | 105 | 137 | 237 | 244 | 316 | 428 | 478 | 344 | 259 | 137 | — | 44 | 4 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 151 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 51 | 262 | 436 | 59 | 437 | 800 | 40 | 294 | 437 | 54 | 151 | 437 | 0 | 294 | 134 | 0 |
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.











