Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, NW 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, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 14s 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 1.2m 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 2.3m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| 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
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for us around Cape Mendocino over the next couple weeks.
Honestly, the next week is gonna be a bit of a tease. We’ve got some solid swell pulses rollin’ in, but the wind just won't play ball. The water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sittin’ around 56°, so you’ll want a good hood or a thick wetsuit.
The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t show up until Thursday afternoon, September 4th and into Friday morning, September 5th. That’s when a bigger NW swell fills in. On the 4th afternoon, Cape Mendocino could see chest-to-head-high-plus waves at 8 ft from the NW, with a period of 11 seconds. There’s a lot of energy in the water, too – moderate to strong energy readings in the 3000s. This is expert territory though; that size is for the experienced crew only. The wind is still cross-shore, so it’s going to be lumpy. Not ideal, but the biggest we’ve seen. If you’re an expert and just need a paddle, that Friday morning the swell drops to a still-chunky 6 ft from the NW.
Now, if you want the real standout, you’ve gotta wait until Tuesday afternoon, September 8th. This is the one. Cape Mendocino gets a clean 2 ft swell from the SW with a long 18-second period. That’s proper groundswell. The big trick here is the wind goes glassy – dead calm. For a spot that’s usually choppy, that’s a gift from the surf gods. The energy is moderate (643), but it’s a long-period, clean wave. Because the period is so long (over 15 seconds), the sets will be few and far between, but the shape will be much better. The downside is I can’t be 100% sure on that glass-off holding that far out, but if it does, that’s your session.
Thursday, September 11th afternoon also shows a bit of hope with glassy conditions and a 3 ft SSW swell (15 sec period), so it could be a decent clean-up session for the second week. Keep an eye on that one.
Bottom line: The first week is a write-off for most of us because of the wind. The best bet on the whole chart is that glassy Tuesday afternoon (Sept 8) for some clean, long-period lines, and the expert-only NW pulse on Sept 4 for the heavy crew. Everything else is just waiting.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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 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 9 | NW 9 | SW 18 | NW 9 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
135 | 171 | 164 | 339 | 281 | 315 | 759 | 877 | 627 | 733 | 554 | 334 | 400 | 325 | 166 | 154 | 246 | 179 | 249 | 155 | 177 | |
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-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 3:11PM1.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:03AM0.72m | 10:30PM0.14m | ||||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 6 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
113 | 128 | 143 | 339 | 281 | 315 | 759 | 877 | 627 | 733 | 554 | 334 | 340 | 325 | 166 | 71 | 246 | 179 | 168 | 155 | 166 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 12 | NW 8 | SW 13 | SSE 10 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 21 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSE 16 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 |
135 | 171 | 164 | 99 | 51 | 88 | 32 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 400 | 18 | 82 | 98 | 154 | 151 | 249 | 83 | 177 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | — | S 9 | W 12 | S 8 | SW 21 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 17 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSE 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 12 |
134 | 106 | 91 | 62 | 62 | 54 | — | 15 | 12 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 58 | 154 | 99 | 75 | 87 | 130 | 110 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | N 3 | N 3 | NW 8 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 7 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — |
5 | 8 | 5 | 214 | 104 | 163 | 195 | 181 | 412 | 572 | 587 | 545 | — | 218 | 120 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 436 | 51 | 151 | 334 | 51 | 151 | 437 | 40 | 244 | 316 | 21 | 191 | 54 | 40 | 152 | 59 | 0 | 152 | 151 | 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.











