Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 540 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with S 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period. 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 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 8PM. 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, same story but in feet and degrees Fahrenheit.
Let’s talk about Cape Mendocino. For the first week and a half, it’s pretty quiet. The water temp is about normal for this time of year. The first half-decent wave shows up on Monday, September 14th. There’s a 6ft NW swell, but it’s a short period of 7 seconds, so it’s soft. The wind is light cross-onshore, keeping it from being perfect. The energy is moderate (569), so it’s a marginal day at best.
The pattern stays weak for several days. Then, on the morning of Thursday, September 17th, we get a cleaner window. A 4ft NW swell, with a 10-second period, and a moderate S wind blowing cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean. The energy is moderate (549). It’s not huge, but it’s the best we’ve seen.
The real standout is the morning of Monday, September 21st. The swell is 3ft from the SW with a long period of 18 seconds – that’s real groundswell. The energy is 693, solid moderate. But the best part: the wind is glassy calm. Zero wind. That’s a rare and beautiful thing. With a long period like that, the waves will have plenty of push, but they might break a bit straight at a beach break, so Cape Mendocino’s exposed nature should help it line up. That morning is the one to chase.
After that, the swell drops off, and the wind turns messy again through the 23rd. So, it’s a long wait for that one glassy morning on September 21st. If you can, make it happen.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | NW 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 209 | 247 | 278 | 196 | 368 | 312 | 419 | 493 | 496 | 477 | 459 | 424 | 412 | 355 | 293 | 186 | 142 | 335 | 372 | 233 | 188 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:36AM1.56m | 9:37PM1.94m | 11:11AM1.64m | 10:32PM1.91m | 11:44AM1.71m | 11:23PM1.85m | 12:15PM1.76m | 00:14AM1.74m | 12:45PM1.78m | 1:04AM1.62m | 1:14PM1.78m | 1:56AM1.48m | 1:43PM1.76m | 2:54AM1.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:59PM0.71m | 4:44AM-0.12m | 4:49PM0.56m | 5:23AM-0.05m | 5:37PM0.42m | 6:00AM0.06m | 6:22PM0.30m | 6:36AM0.21m | 7:07PM0.22m | 7:11AM0.38m | 7:51PM0.17m | 7:46AM0.56m | 8:37PM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | SW 19 | WNW 12 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | NW 9 | SW 14 | NW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 178 | 168 | 199 | 238 | 368 | 184 | 419 | 493 | 496 | 477 | 459 | 424 | 314 | 346 | 230 | 186 | 142 | 335 | 114 | 83 | 101 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 8 | NW 10 | SW 14 | WSW 18 | SW 14 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 209 | 247 | 278 | 196 | 110 | 312 | 157 | 101 | 125 | 85 | 22 | 84 | 412 | 31 | 293 | 56 | 67 | 116 | 107 | 188 | 188 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WNW 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | WSW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | S 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WSW 9 | WNW 15 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 158 | 118 | 166 | 132 | 69 | 94 | 84 | 46 | 98 | 39 | 50 | 36 | 47 | 8 | 65 | 36 | 57 | 127 | 8 | 84 | 74 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NW 10 | — | NW 7 | NW 6 | — | NW 7 | NW 7 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 204 | 193 | 222 | 310 | 468 | 555 | 441 | 285 | — | 355 | — | 124 | 136 | — | 372 | 233 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 40 | 114 | 151 | 0 | 151 | 54 | 51 | 151 | 51 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 51 | 40 | 75 | 0 | 151 | 151 | 21 | 104 | 151 |
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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