Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Issued: 10 pm 02 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
9.8° C

3.5°C colder than average for this time of year

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 3 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with 651 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 1.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2AM (Wed 8th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s

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 get straight into it. Right now, things are looking pretty flat and messy for the cape. We've got a long stretch ahead with very little to get excited about, so strap in.

We're starting off on Friday, 3rd July, with small, weak swell from the SSW at just 2 ft, but the wind is howling out of the north at 15 mph, making for a lumpy cross-shore chop. The energy is weak (285), and the whole setup is just poor. This pattern sticks around through the weekend. Saturday, 4th July, sees a brief bump to 7 ft from the NW, but that's short-period wind swell at 8 seconds, blasted by a 18 mph NNW breeze. The water is sitting about average for the time of year. This is more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-surfing one with that strong cross-wind and lumpy chop. The energy jumps up to (688), but the quality is just not there.

We finally get a whiff of something a little more interesting on Monday, 6th July. Cape Mendocino looks at a 7 ft swell from the NW in the morning. The period is still short at 9 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore at 9 mph, creating a choppy surface. The energy is strong (1118), and it's labeled as marginal. However, for an advanced spot, there might be some raw power to work with, but it's going to be a battle with the wind. It's also a bit much for beginners. The afternoon sees a similar 7 ft swell, but the wind picks up, making it even rougher.

After that brief pulse, we slip back into a long, flat spell. From Tuesday, 7th July, right through to the 18th of July, it's just day after day of small, weak, and badly wind-affected swell. The energy figures are mostly in the moderate range (300-600), with periods either too short or too long for this exposed beach setup, and the wind never lays down. There are no standouts, no clean windows, nothing worth paddling out for. The forecast is consistent in its mediocrity, unfortunately.

So, bottom line: The only semi-interesting moment is Monday, 6th July, for advanced surfers who don't mind a chop. But for the rest of this 16-day stretch, you're better off waiting for the next system to roll through. It's a tough run for the cape.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thu
9
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
1
0
3
1
0
0
1
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)
0.6
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
16
2
NW
8
0.6
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.6
SSW
18
2.1
NW
9
2
NW
8
1.8
NW
8
0.8
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
246
142
140
288
453
149
186
188
319
207
645
540
364
485
643
651
491
608
539
643
525
Wind (km/h)
20
N
25
N
25
N
20
N
30
NNW
30
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNW
20
N
15
NW
20
NNW
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
25
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
1:05AM1.68m
3:18PM1.42m
1:47AM1.58m
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
Low Tide
8:24AM-0.15m
8:32PM0.92m
8:59AM-0.06m
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
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:51
8:51
8:51
8:51
8:50
8:50
8:50
8:49
 mm
Temp °C
13
15
15
13
15
16
13
14
14
13
13
14
13
14
14
13
15
16
13
13
14
Feels °C
9
11
11
9
10
11
8
11
10
9
11
12
10
9
9
9
10
12
9
7
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
16
0.5
SW
13
0.6
SSW
14
2.3
NNW
8
0.6
SSW
14
0.7
SW
18
0.8
WNW
12
0.9
WNW
12
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
20
0.8
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
1.1
NW
10
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
Energy kJ
176
142
140
288
88
138
704
136
319
184
215
330
336
485
643
225
491
608
539
643
525
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
17
0.3
S
16
0.4
WNW
14
0.4
WNW
13
0.4
WNW
13
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
18
0.5
WNW
11
0.6
SSW
18
0.8
N
8
0.7
WNW
12
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.4
SSW
14
1
SSW
18
0.6
SW
15
0.9
NW
9
0.4
S
19
0.5
S
18
Energy kJ
246
100
46
73
69
66
186
188
70
207
88
119
261
258
69
651
171
120
118
160
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WNW
15
0.3
WNW
15
0.3
WNW
15
0.2
SSW
21
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
20
0.5
WNW
12
0.5
WNW
13
0.5
WNW
13
0.5
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
17
0.5
SSW
21
0.3
SSW
12
0.2
S
12
0.1
S
8
0.7
SSW
15
0.3
S
20
0.4
S
19
Energy kJ
22
43
42
45
78
149
85
98
101
101
258
260
28
11
1
191
68
118
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
NNW
8
1.8
NW
7
1.7
NNW
7
1.6
NNW
8
2
NW
8
2
NNW
8
2.2
NNW
8
2.4
NNW
9
2.3
NNW
9
2.1
NW
9
2
NW
8
1.8
NW
8
1.8
NW
7
1.6
NW
7
0.9
N
6
1.4
NW
10
1
NNW
5
1.6
NW
7
2
NW
7
1.9
NW
7
Energy kJ
382
340
259
287
453
464
682
825
809
645
540
364
322
244
66
392
48
221
407
405
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
3
1
3
4
2
3
4
3
1
3
2
2
4
4
2
3
3
2
Distance (km)
40
219
294
40
149
51
40
146
51
41
211
437
40
151
437
54
262
436
54
316
437
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
3
2
3
4
3
3
4
3
2
4
2
2
4
4
3
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
8
5
4
5
5
9
6
7
6
9
7
5
6
9
9
9
6
5
6
6
  • 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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