Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 01 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
11.5°C
3.2° 

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 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, NW swell with 2,206 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with NW 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Tue 1st Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 3rd Sep)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 3rd Sep)10ft (3.0m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next 16 days for Cape Mendocino.

First thing you gotta know is the water is runnin' a full 3.2° colder than normal for this time of year, sittin' at just 52.7°F. That’s a serious chill, so you’ll want a thick hood and gloves if you’re paddlin' out.

The first real chance to get wet isn’t until Tuesday, September 1st, in the morning. We’ve got a 3.6ft swell rollin' in from the northwest with a 10-second period, and the wind is a cross-offshore breeze at 9 mph. The wave energy is pumpin' at 510 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. It’s the only standout in the early stretch, but it’s a good one for a Tuesday morning session. After that, the wind picks up and the waves get messy, so don’t waste that window.

There’s a gap of poor conditions from Tuesday afternoon all the way through the end of the first week. The swell tries to show up on Thursday, September 3rd, with 6.2ft from the WNW, but it’s carryin' a 10-second period and the wind is cross or cross-on, leavin' it choppy and marginal. The energy is solid (1259), but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle.

The next real chance comes around Monday, September 14th, in the morning. We’re lookin' at 5.2ft from the northwest with a 14-second period, a gentle cross-shore breeze, and wave energy at 1144 (moderate). It’s a groundswell with that long period, which is gonna be better shaped and more powerful, but at a beach break like this, it might reel off a bit straight. Still, it’s the best call in the second week for a surfer who knows what they’re doing.

The final day, Wednesday, September 16th, in the afternoon, things get real big. A 9.8ft northwest swell with a 13-second period and an energy readin' of 3441 (very strong). That’s a lot of water movin'. The wind is light and cross-shore, so the surface might be okay, but at 9.8ft, this is expert territory only. The report says it might be too big for the break, so only the gnarliest locals should even think about it.

Honestly, the whole outlook is a mixed bag. The Tuesday morning session on September 1st is your best bet for a clean, fun wave. After that, keep your eyes on the 14th for a solid groundswell, and leave the 16th for the heroes.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

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

Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
0
1
0
0
2
3
2
4
3
2
4
1
1
3
2
1
3
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)
1.1
NW
10
1
NW
10
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
18
0.5
SW
16
1.4
WNW
8
1.9
WNW
10
2.5
NW
12
2.5
NW
11
2.1
NW
10
1.8
NW
10
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSE
16
0.9
SSE
16
0.7
SSE
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
222
181
151
249
130
268
712
1771
1828
901
609
659
487
463
519
411
330
273
353
348
222
Wind (km/h)
15
S
20
S
20
SSE
35
SSE
40
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
15
SSW
5
SE
10
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNE
15
NNW
15
NNW
10
NNE
10
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNE
20
N
25
N
20
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
2:29PM1.80m
3:43AM1.27m
3:11PM1.82m
5:11AM1.18m
4:03PM1.83m
6:53AM1.19m
5:06PM1.83m
8:17AM1.27m
6:17PM1.84m
9:14AM1.37m
7:30PM1.87m
9:58AM1.47m
8:37PM1.91m
Low Tide
8:22AM0.55m
9:27PM0.20m
9:03AM0.72m
10:30PM0.14m
9:54AM0.88m
11:43PM0.09m
11:07AM1.00m
1:00AM0.02m
12:35PM1.04m
2:10AM-0.05m
1:56PM0.98m
3:10AM-0.12m
3:02PM0.86m
4:00AM-0.14m
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:45
6:46
6:47
6:48
6:48
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:50
7:47
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:40
7:39
 mm
8
17
1
Temp °C
17
17
16
15
15
16
17
17
15
16
16
14
15
16
14
15
16
14
16
16
14
Feels °C
15
14
13
11
9
15
15
15
14
14
13
11
13
13
12
13
14
12
12
11
11
  • 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