Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s is also forecast. 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for this stretch of coast. We've got a bit of a waiting game on our hands. The first week or so is looking pretty grim, with a lot of cross-shore winds and marginal surf making it tough to find a clean wave. The water is sitting at around 56°F, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you might want a thicker suit.
The first real chance of anything decent pops up on Saturday, August 30th (that's a week away). Cape Mendocino will see some swell from the SSW, bumping up to about 4ft, with a long period of 18 seconds down into 16 seconds. The wave energy is moderate (1044 on Saturday afternoon), but the wind is a rough cross-shore, which will keep things messy. It's a marginal call at best, and honestly, you'd be fighting a cross-chop all session.
After that, the whole first week of September looks like a write-off. The wind just won't let up, and the swell is weak and poorly directed. It's a long stretch of "poor surf conditions" with scores staying at zero. You're better off saving your energy.
Now, hold on to your boards, because the outlook does get a bit more interesting for the second week. The standout in this whole 16-day forecast is Sunday, September 8th. I know it's a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed the forecast holds. On the Sunday morning, we finally see a shift. The wind from the NW drops to zilch, glassing off the ocean for the Cape Mendocino area. The swell is a clean 3ft from the SSW, with a long period of 15 seconds. That's groundswell, folks. It'll have some energy, and with glassy conditions, those waves are going to be picture-perfect. The combined energy is moderate (384), but the "glassy" wind state is a massive tick. This is the one to aim for. The Sunday afternoon looks even better with a score of 3 out of 10 and "very good surf conditions" expected, with a 3ft swell from the SW and a 17-second period.
The very end of the forecast, on Wednesday, September 9th, also shows a promising window with glassy winds and a 3ft SW swell, but it's so far out the confidence is lower. Focus on that Sunday, September 8th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 326 | 214 | 206 | 203 | 201 | 183 | 135 | 171 | 164 | 339 | 281 | 315 | 759 | 751 | 627 | 733 | 546 | 405 | 400 | 325 | 210 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:24AM1.42m | 9:58PM1.81m | 11:48AM1.47m | 10:40PM1.82m | 12:11PM1.52m | 11:21PM1.80m | 12:34PM1.58m | 00:03AM1.74m | 12:58PM1.65m | 00:47AM1.65m | 1:25PM1.71m | 1:37AM1.53m | 1:55PM1.76m | 2:34AM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:33PM0.87m | 5:15AM-0.01m | 5:10PM0.79m | 5:45AM-0.01m | 5:45PM0.69m | 6:14AM0.03m | 6:22PM0.59m | 6:43AM0.11m | 7:01PM0.47m | 7:13AM0.23m | 7:44PM0.37m | 7:46AM0.37m | 8:32PM0.27m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 17 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 326 | 214 | 206 | 203 | 201 | 183 | 126 | 103 | 129 | 339 | 281 | 315 | 759 | 751 | 627 | 733 | 546 | 405 | 400 | 325 | 210 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | S 13 | S 13 | W 13 | W 12 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | NW 6 | W 10 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 39 | 126 | 125 | 89 | 75 | 120 | 135 | 171 | 164 | 103 | 96 | 85 | 32 | 15 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 56 | 17 | 29 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | W 15 | WNW 8 | S 12 | SSW 12 | W 7 | SW 15 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | — | — | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | W 10 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 126 | 71 | 37 | 75 | 47 | 26 | 134 | 106 | 63 | 62 | 88 | 57 | — | — | 7 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 24 | 71 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 3 | N 3 | — | NNW 4 | N 3 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | — |
| kJ | — | 32 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 2 | — | 10 | 5 | 196 | 177 | 134 | 208 | 223 | 286 | 455 | 294 | 123 | — | 46 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 151 | 40 | 151 | 134 | 0 | 151 | 211 | 40 | 151 | 437 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 262 | 436 | 40 | 128 | 134 | 0 |
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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