Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
12.2° C
2.1° 

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 16 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with 602 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. 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 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) 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 2.2m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Fri 21st Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Fri 21st Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sun 23rd Aug)7ft (2.1m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Cape Mendocino. Gotta be honest with you, it's been a rough stretch and it's going to stay rough for a good while. This is one of those periods where you’re better off waxing your board and waiting.

Right now and through this coming week, we're looking at a whole lot of nothing. The water is running much colder than normal at 54°, which is over three degrees off the mark – you’ll feel that in your bones. For days, the swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft to 3ft and the wind is a constant problem, with a cross-shore chop mucking everything up. You won’t find a single session worth paddling out for in the first six days. The combined wave energy struggles to even hit moderate numbers, maxing out around 655, and the wave comments tell the same story: poor or marginal.

Now, the second week brings a glimmer, but it's a tricky one. On Sunday the 23rd of August, we get a spike of bigger energy. Swell jumps to 6ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon, pushing the combined energy up to 849. But here’s the catch – that swell is from the NW with a period of only 8 seconds. That’s short-period windswell, and with cross-shore winds in the 12 mph range, it’s going to be a mess. At that size and with that wind chop, this is one for experienced surfers only, and honestly, it looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

The real standout, the one day that might actually give you a smile, is Monday the 24th of August. We get a tiny 2ft swell from the SW, but it’s packing 18-second groundswell. That’s a very long period, so you’ll get long waits between sets, but the trade-off is shape. The wind goes glassy in the afternoon – dead calm – and the combined energy is a moderate 355. For a shortboard at a point break or reef, that 18-second pulse could actually offer a few lined-up, clean rides. It’s not a day for big waves, but it’s your best shot at some quality. Get ready for crowds though, because this spot gets busy sometimes, and when it’s this clean everyone shows up.

After that, Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th of August have flickers of glassy conditions again with similar waist-high SW swell, but the period drops to 16 seconds and the size stays tiny. Worth a paddle if you’re desperate, but the Monday session is the one to circle.

Then we fade out into another poor run of cross-shore wind and weak swell right through to the end of August. The forecast is pretty reliable for the near term, but that Monday window is still a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it. Don’t hold your breath on the rest.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
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
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
WNW
12
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
13
0.4
SW
18
1.3
NW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
519
512
334
330
334
334
178
249
291
169
305
314
233
223
236
156
109
99
99
112
181
Wind (km/h)
15
NNW
25
N
15
N
20
NNW
20
NNW
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNW
25
NNW
25
N
15
N
15
NW
20
NNW
15
N
15
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNE
25
N
25
N
20
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
2:43PM1.75m
2:58AM1.41m
3:18PM1.74m
4:06AM1.25m
3:55PM1.71m
5:35AM1.14m
4:39PM1.68m
7:24AM1.13m
5:31PM1.65m
8:53AM1.20m
6:30PM1.65m
9:48AM1.27m
7:30PM1.67m
Low Tide
8:26AM0.26m
9:14PM0.38m
9:04AM0.47m
10:12PM0.35m
9:47AM0.67m
11:15PM0.32m
10:37AM0.85m
00:23AM0.29m
11:45AM0.99m
1:32AM0.24m
1:04PM1.05m
2:33AM0.18m
2:14PM1.05m
3:24AM0.11m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:14
8:12
8:10
8:08
8:07
8:06
8:05
 mm
Temp °C
16
16
14
15
16
13
15
16
14
16
16
14
16
16
14
17
17
15
16
17
15
Feels °C
14
13
11
13
13
9
11
12
11
13
13
11
14
14
12
15
14
12
13
13
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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