
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 7 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.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about what's happening at Cape Mendocino.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. Don't get your hopes up. We've got a long stretch coming up where the conditions just aren't cooperating. From Monday the 6th all the way through to Friday morning the 17th, the surf is a write-off. The wind is howling out of the north and northwest, putting a nasty cross-chop on everything. The swell is there, but it's a messy mix, and the wind just ruins it. It's going to be a frustrating period for anyone trying to get a wave.
Now, let's look at the numbers. On Monday the 6th, we have a 3 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and the energy is moderate at 1090. But the 12 mph NNW cross-wind just kills it. The water temperature is a chilly 51°, which is 5° colder than normal for this time of year. That's a big anomaly, so you'll definitely want a thick wetsuit. The situation doesn't improve much for the next week. The wind stays strong, the swell direction is all over the place, and the scores are bottom-of-the-barrel. There's a brief moment on Friday the 10th where the swell bumps up to 7 ft from the NW, but it's short-period at 8 seconds and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. That's a messy, blown-out combo that's way too big for beginners and only for the most hardcore experts who don't mind a battle.
The whole pattern is relentless. The wind shifts a bit but stays in that problematic cross-shore range, and the swell energy fluctuates between weak and moderate, never really locking in. For instance, the 16th of July has a 2 ft WNW swell with a very long 19-second period, but that energy is high (581) and the wind is a fresh 19 mph. That long period groundswell would be a dream at a point break, but with this wind, it’s just a crumbly, choppy mess at the beach.
But hold on. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. The real standout, the only period worth circling on your calendar, is Saturday the 18th of July. This is the one. The morning brings a 3 ft WNW swell with a 16-second period and a glassy, offshore wind from the SW at just 3 mph. The energy is a solid 632. The afternoon gets even better: the wind goes completely flat, dead calm, from the SSW at 0 mph, with a 3 ft SW swell at a very long 18 seconds. The energy climbs to 763. This is clean, glassy surf. It's not huge, but it will be the best shaped, most fun waves we've seen in the entire forecast. The crowd profile says "sometimes," so expect a few others to have the same idea.
The following Sunday and Monday slip back into mediocrity with light but onshore winds and marginal conditions. So, your window is clear: Saturday the 18th is the session. It's a long way out, so the forecast could shift, but right now, that's the only play.
This is Rusty, signing off. Good luck out there.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mon 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | NW 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
330 | 606 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 596 | 717 | 539 | 643 | 441 | 377 | 588 | 372 | 339 | 268 | 272 | 279 | 226 | 245 | 375 | 155 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:54PM1.62m | 4:47AM1.15m | 5:32PM1.70m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:35PM0.58m | 10:58AM0.39m | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | |
8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | 8:46 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | SSW 20 | WNW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 14 | NW 9 |
171 | 336 | 146 | 643 | 651 | 596 | 717 | 539 | 643 | 441 | 372 | 372 | 372 | 339 | 268 | 125 | 161 | 226 | 245 | 178 | 155 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 20 | S 19 | — | S 18 | SSW 16 | — | — | WNW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 16 | SW 14 |
330 | 261 | 485 | 70 | 220 | 171 | 68 | 117 | — | 160 | 377 | — | — | 81 | 125 | 272 | 279 | 168 | 173 | 51 | 93 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 8 | S 21 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | S 20 | W 19 | S 19 | S 17 | S 18 | S 18 | SSW 14 |
260 | 28 | 258 | 5 | 35 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 51 | 55 | 24 | 66 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 11 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 9 | NNW 5 |
329 | 606 | 178 | 215 | 279 | 341 | 178 | 416 | 542 | 572 | 682 | 588 | 416 | 125 | 51 | 56 | 46 | 123 | 119 | 375 | 39 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 437 | 54 | 151 | 437 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 54 | 334 | 437 | 40 | 262 | 437 | 51 | 262 | 436 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 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.











