
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with 717 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Mendocino this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 5PM. 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 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Cape Mendocino has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it's looking like a tough run. We've got a long stretch ahead with hardly anything worth getting excited about, so temper those expectations.
Right off the bat, there's nothing happening. The first few days are a write-off. We're looking at a gap of several days with no real surf to recommend. The first hint of anything that's even worth a mention comes on Sunday, July 5th, but it's a mixed bag. Sunday morning brings a 5 ft NW swell, but it's short-period at 8 seconds, and the wind is a cross-onshore from the NNW at 19 mph. It's choppy and not looking great. The afternoon cleans up a bit with clearer skies and a lighter cross-shore wind, but the swell drops to 3 ft from the SSW with a very long 18-second period. There's moderate wave energy (556) but the comment is "marginal." For an exposed spot like Cape Mendocino, that long-period SSW groundswell might wrap in okay, but the size is tiny.
Monday the 6th sees a jump in size with a 7 ft NW swell in the morning, but again, it's short-period (8 seconds) and cross-onshore. The wave energy is strong (1206) but the quality is poor. This NW swell is bumpy and messy. As we move through the week, it's more of the same: constant cross-shore winds from the N and NNW, mostly fresh breezes (16-19 mph) that are going to leave the surface lumpy and chopped up. The swell direction keeps flipping between small, long-period SSW pulses and short-period NW windswell, but the wind just won't play ball.
Now, the water temperature is a big talking point here. It's 49°F, which is a massive 7° colder than normal for this time of year. That is very unusual and seriously cold. You'll want a thick hood and boots, no question.
The best of a bad lot looks like Tuesday morning, July 7th. We've got a 5 ft NW swell with a slightly longer 11-second period, and the wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 12 mph. The combined energy is strong (1349). It's not clean, but it's the most size and push we see all week before the wind gets even stronger. For an advanced spot that's "fairly consistent," this might offer some lumpy, powerful lines for the locals who don't mind the chop.
After that, it's grim. From Wednesday the 8th right through to the end of the forecast on July 19th, it's just day after day of poor surf conditions. The winds are relentless, mostly fresh cross-shore breezes, sometimes gusting 22 mph. Swell sizes hover between 3 ft and 6 ft, but with that wind, it's all mess. The 6 ft NW swell on Wednesday July 15th afternoon has a period of just 7 seconds – that's pure windswell, blown out and ugly. Given the persistent cross-wind and significant swell at times, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of the period.
Honestly, there's no standout session here. The whole 16-day window is a struggle. The only day that might produce a few gruntier, albeit rough, waves is the 7th. But it's not one to tell your mates about. For this area, a blank run like this isn't unheard of, and forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it, but for now, I'd be finding something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 11 | NW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | NW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
149 | 314 | 311 | 399 | 207 | 527 | 434 | 606 | 595 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 717 | 539 | 643 | 525 | 414 | 372 | 362 | 334 | 357 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:49PM1.47m | 2:35AM1.44m | 4:21PM1.54m | 3:33AM1.30m | 4:54PM1.62m | 4:47AM1.15m | 5:32PM1.70m | 6:21AM1.05m | 6:14PM1.80m | 8:06AM1.05m | 7:02PM1.89m | 9:33AM1.14m | 7:54PM1.98m | 10:39AM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:27PM0.85m | 9:35AM0.06m | 10:28PM0.74m | 10:14AM0.21m | 11:35PM0.58m | 10:58AM0.39m | 00:42AM0.38m | 11:48AM0.58m | 1:46AM0.16m | 12:47PM0.74m | 2:45AM-0.05m | 1:51PM0.86m | 3:40AM-0.25m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | |
8:51 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | 8:47 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | SSW 18 | NNW 8 | WNW 12 | SSW 16 | NW 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | NW 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
138 | 314 | 287 | 399 | 601 | 161 | 330 | 606 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 717 | 183 | 643 | 525 | 414 | 372 | 362 | 334 | 268 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | N 8 | NW 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SSW 17 | WNW 12 | SSW 20 | SW 16 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 20 | SSW 16 | — | S 18 | WNW 9 | — | — | WNW 9 | S 20 |
66 | 264 | 311 | 99 | 184 | 258 | 171 | 336 | 258 | 141 | 220 | 171 | 68 | 539 | — | 160 | 67 | — | — | 78 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSW 14 | S 21 | S 11 | — | S 19 | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | NW 8 | W 18 |
149 | 186 | 136 | 58 | 207 | 260 | 260 | 261 | 11 | 70 | 35 | 9 | — | 117 | — | — | 27 | — | — | 21 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 8 | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | NW 11 | NNW 6 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 6 | N 8 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 10 |
340 | 558 | — | 527 | — | 527 | 434 | — | 595 | 118 | 315 | 461 | 195 | 187 | 323 | 323 | 243 | 342 | 332 | 125 | 357 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 51 | 40 | 51 | 151 | 40 | 151 | 437 | 45 | 151 | 438 | 51 | 262 | 436 | 59 | 334 | 436 | 40 | 262 | 54 | 59 | 289 |
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.











