Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
11.0°C
3.6° 

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 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, NW swell with 1,121 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period with WNW 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 18s. 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 2.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep)6ft (1.9m) 10s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep)6ft (1.9m) 10s
Most Powerful 5AM (Fri 4th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the Cape Mendocino outlook.

First up, we got a slow start. Thursday’s got some northwest swell, 2.0m at 10 seconds, but the wind is light cross-onshore, putting a little ruffle on the surface. The combined energy is solid at 1284, but it’s just not clean. Friday morning is a bit bigger, 2.1m from the NW at 11 seconds, but still cross-shore wind, and it’s not clean enough to get pumped about.

Then Friday afternoon throws a curveball – the swell drops to 1.1m, but it’s from the SSW with a _very_ long period of 17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, but the wind is light onshore and the quality is unknown. That long period stuff can be weird at a beach break, breaking too straight.

From Saturday the 5th all the way through to Wednesday the 16th, it’s a total write-off. The wind is howling from the north, sometimes over 30 km/h, and the swell is either tiny or chopped to bits. The scores are all poor. There’s a long stretch of nothing, honestly.

The only real chance comes late on Thursday the 17th. The morning has a 1.5m NW swell with a short 7-second period, but it’s marginal. The standout is Thursday afternoon: the swell is tiny at 0.7m, but it’s from the SSW with a _very_ long period of 21 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The wind goes light and variable, almost glassy. The combined energy is 625, which is moderate. That’s a clean, small-wave session for the experts.

If you’re an advanced surfer who can work a small, long-period wave, that Thursday afternoon is your only real window. Otherwise, it’s a long wait. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. For most of this period, the strong north wind and lumpy chop are better for kite surfing.

Keep an eye on that Thursday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
4
3
3
4
2
1
3
0
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
3
2
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
WNW
10
2
WNW
11
2.1
NW
11
2.1
NW
11
1.9
NW
10
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSE
15
1
SSE
14
1
S
14
0.6
S
16
1
S
14
1.1
S
14
1.3
S
13
1.2
S
12
0.7
S
13
0.7
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
716
991
1072
996
724
659
620
589
653
405
400
370
437
405
178
399
442
551
420
171
312
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
5
SW
10
SSE
15
SSW
10
WSW
5
NE
10
NNW
20
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
20
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
25
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
20
NNW
10
NNE
5
WNW
10
NW
5
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
4:03PM1.83m
6:53AM1.19m
5:06PM1.83m
8:17AM1.27m
6:17PM1.84m
9:14AM1.37m
7:30PM1.87m
9:58AM1.47m
8:37PM1.91m
10:36AM1.56m
9:37PM1.94m
11:11AM1.64m
10:32PM1.91m
Low Tide
9:54AM0.88m
11:43PM0.09m
11:07AM1.00m
1:00AM0.02m
12:35PM1.04m
2:10AM-0.05m
1:56PM0.98m
3:10AM-0.12m
3:02PM0.86m
4:00AM-0.14m
3:59PM0.71m
4:44AM-0.12m
4:49PM0.56m
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:47
6:48
6:48
6:50
6:50
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:40
7:39
7:37
7:37
 mm
2
Temp °C
16
16
15
16
16
15
16
16
14
15
16
14
16
16
14
15
16
14
16
16
14
Feels °C
15
15
15
14
14
15
14
13
11
13
13
12
14
13
11
13
13
12
16
15
14
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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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