Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 8 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 2.4m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 5AM.
| 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.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Right off the bat, we’ve got to be straight with you. This forecast for Cape Mendocino is a tough one. For over a week, from Wednesday morning July 8th all the way through to Monday afternoon July 20th, conditions are looking grim. We’re talking poor surf quality with a lot of cross-shore wind and lumpy, choppy water. It’s a long stretch of ‘don’t bother.’
The only real glimmer on the horizon comes later. On Monday morning July 20th, the swell drops to 2 ft from the SW with a long period of 16 seconds. The wind is gentler, a light 9 mph cross-shore from the NNW. Combined wave energy is a weak-to-moderate 565. It’s not a standout, but that gentle breeze is the cleanest we see. The water temp anomaly is about average for the time of year.
Then Tuesday morning July 21st, we get a similar setup: 3 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, but the wind is a light cross-onshore at 9 mph, making it a bit choppier. The energy is moderate at 706.
If you’re desperate for a surf later on, Wednesday July 22nd sees a drop to 3 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period and a 9 mph cross-shore. It’s still poor though. The swell is too inconsistent and wind never really goes glassy. For the most part, this stretch is a write-off. The first weak pulse of a recommendation doesn’t really show up until almost two weeks into the outlook. There’s nothing that’s breaking well with the consistent cross-wind.
Hang in there, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tue 14 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 651 | 596 | 717 | 539 | 545 | 441 | 372 | 377 | 372 | 275 | 268 | 242 | 252 | 407 | 649 | 460 | 355 | 118 | 139 | 196 | 232 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:21AM1.05m | 6:14PM1.80m | 8:06AM1.05m | 7:02PM1.89m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:42AM0.38m | 11:48AM0.58m | 1:46AM0.16m | 12:47PM0.74m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — |
 | 8:50 | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:46 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 7 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 14 | W 14 |
| kJ | 651 | 596 | 717 | 539 | 545 | 441 | 372 | 377 | 372 | 122 | 128 | 151 | 252 | 168 | 173 | 178 | 93 | 118 | 139 | 69 | 103 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | SW 15 | NW 10 | S 19 | — | S 18 | — | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 19 | S 17 | S 18 | WNW 16 | SSW 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 142 | 171 | 73 | 188 | — | 160 | — | — | — | 275 | 268 | 242 | 29 | 51 | 55 | 53 | 66 | 76 | 133 | 51 | 62 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | S 11 | S 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | S 20 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 220 | 9 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 70 | 44 | 113 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | N 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 50 | 415 | 214 | 517 | 557 | 544 | 735 | 587 | 405 | 111 | 123 | 140 | 303 | 407 | 649 | 460 | 355 | 268 | 171 | 196 | 232 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 51 | 151 | 437 | 54 | 262 | 437 | 40 | 437 | 437 | 54 | 316 | 778 | 54 | 316 | 750 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 780 |
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.
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