Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for the Cape Mendocino stretch over the next couple of weeks.

First off, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days aren’t offering much to get excited about. Monday the 31st into Tuesday the 1st of September is looking pretty flat and messy, with small, weak swell and cross-shore junk. You’re better off waxing your board at home.

Things start to shift on Thursday the 3rd. That’s when we finally see some pulse. The swell picks up to 6ft from the WNW, with a period around 9 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is solid at 1092, and by the afternoon, the wind goes light and cross-off, cleaning things right up. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. This is the standout window for the first week. Thursday afternoon has that “excellent” feel to it – clean, punchy, and good for experienced surfers. That 6ft is a bit much for beginners, but if you’ve got a few years under your belt, you’ll be stoked.

Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th still have some energy, but the wind shifts to a cross-shore, making it a bit choppier. The swell drops a touch, and the quality fades. Sunday the 6th through to Tuesday the 8th sees the swell drop back to under 3ft, with cross-shore winds and mediocre energy. Not worth the paddle.

Then we get a bit of a wildcard. Wednesday the 9th of September, we see a big spike in the morning: 8ft from the NW at 9 seconds, with combined energy at 1437. That’s a lot of raw power, but it’s a short-period windswell, so it’ll be lumpy and tough. That afternoon, the wind drops to glassy, and the swell flattens to 2ft from the SW with a very long 20-second period. That’s a clean, glassy, but tiny wave. It’s more of a longboard or funboard session, but the glassy conditions are a treat.

After that, the second week fades into small, weak, and mostly cross-shore slop. Thursday the 10th through to Tuesday the 15th of September is pretty bleak – waves under 3ft, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with moderate to fresh winds and poor conditions. There’s a brief glassy moment on Sunday the 13th, but it’s only 2ft and very weak energy (184). That’s a super marginal session at best.

So, the best bet by far is Thursday the 3rd of September, especially the afternoon. Clean, strong, and solid. If you can handle a bit of power, that’s the one. For the patient, Wednesday the 9th afternoon offers a glassy, long-period sliver, but it’s tiny.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change, but for now, mark your calendar for the 3rd.

Rusty.

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