Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.6° C
2.7° 

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 10 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, NW swell with 667 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 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful11AM (Sun 12th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 10s

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


Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what we've got for the Cape Mendocino area.

Honestly, for the first week our surf situation is pretty grim. We've got a long stretch of poor conditions staring us down. The wind is a constant problem, locked in from the north or north-northwest, blowing cross-shore at 15 to 19 mph. That's a moderate to fresh breeze that's just ruining any chance of clean waves. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Let's walk through it. Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, we're looking at small, long-period SSW groundswell around 3 ft to 3 ft with a period of 14 to 15 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (around 435 to 671), but with that cross wind creating a cross-chop, it's poor. Not worth paddling out.

Sunday the 12th sees a bit more size, with the swell bumping up to 6 ft from the NW, but the period drops right off to a short, weak 7 to 10 seconds. That combined energy climbs up to 885, but it's still lumpy and poor. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday the 13th through Saturday the 18th is more of the same. Swells hover around 1 ft to 6 ft, mostly from the NW, WNW, or SW. The periods vary, but the wind stays cross and messy. A couple of mornings on the 17th and 18th get a marginal forecast, but with a gentle cross-onshore breeze, it's still just not clean. The energy is moderate, topping out at 811 on the morning of the 18th, but the quality isn't there.

There's a real gap here. Days 10 to 14 have no standouts.

Now, looking into the second week, things get a little more promising but it's far from certain. On Sunday the 19th, we see a morning pulse of 6 ft from the NW with a short 8-second period. The energy is moderate (884) but it's still a cross wind. That's a "maybe" at best, not a standout.

The real glimmer in this whole 16-day window is on Friday the 25th. Saturday morning the 25th sees a tiny 1 ft swell from the SW, but check out the period – a very long 24 seconds. That's proper groundswell energy, though it's only got weak combined energy (247). The wind finally eases to a light breeze from the NNW at 9 mph, but it's cross-on. Because this is such a long-period swell, it will wrap and work best at a proper point break or reef, but at a beach break it might break too straight. It's a tease, and a long way out, so treat it with a pinch of salt.

Honestly, for Cape Mendocino right now, it’s a blank run that’s pretty normal for the area when the wind sets in. It tends not to stay this poor forever and forecasts can change. For now, I’d save the energy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thu
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
1.8
NW
10
1.9
NW
10
1.9
NW
7
1.7
NW
9
1.7
NW
8
1.6
NW
8
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
W
14
0.5
W
14
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.4
WNW
20
0.5
WNW
20
0.6
WNW
19
0.6
WNW
19
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
372
372
367
334
268
272
597
667
323
449
381
322
139
106
103
194
194
160
218
283
277
Wind (km/h)
25
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
25
N
30
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
30
NNW
30
N
35
N
30
NNW
30
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
9:33AM1.14m
7:54PM1.98m
10:39AM1.25m
8:48PM2.06m
11:31AM1.36m
9:44PM2.12m
12:18PM1.44m
10:38PM2.15m
1:01PM1.50m
11:31PM2.12m
1:42PM1.56m
00:24AM2.04m
2:22PM1.61m
Low Tide
2:45AM-0.05m
1:51PM0.86m
3:40AM-0.25m
2:56PM0.92m
4:33AM-0.40m
3:57PM0.93m
5:23AM-0.49m
4:56PM0.90m
6:11AM-0.52m
5:52PM0.84m
6:56AM-0.48m
6:48PM0.78m
7:41AM-0.39m
7:46PM0.71m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
6:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:49
8:49
8:47
8:47
8:46
8:46
8:45
8:45
 mm
Temp °C
12
14
15
14
16
16
13
15
16
13
15
16
14
16
16
13
15
15
13
15
15
Feels °C
7
10
11
10
12
11
8
10
11
8
10
11
10
12
11
8
10
9
8
9
9
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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