Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s ahead for Cape Mendocino.

Honestly, looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a tough stretch. We’re staring down a long dry spell. The forecast is mostly filled with poor surf conditions and a persistent cross-shore wind that just won’t let up. The first spot that shows even a glimmer of a chance isn’t until Thursday the 20th, and even then it’s just marginal.

So, for the next week, it’s a grind. From now through most of the next week, you’ve got a moderate breeze coming from the north or north-northwest, creating a lumpy cross-chop almost every session. The swell is small—under 3 ft—and coming from the SSW, but with that wind, it’s just not worth paddling out. The wave energy is there, but it’s messy.

There is one little window that stands out. Monday the 24th, in the afternoon. This is the only real highlight I can see. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a slight air. The swell is a clean 2 ft from the southwest with a long 18-second period. That long period means the energy will be more organized, but at a beach-and-reef setup like this, a long, straight groundswell can be a bit tricky. Still, with glassy conditions, it will be the cleanest we’ll see all forecast. That’s your best bet by a long shot. Crowds are likely here sometimes.

After that, it gets ugly again. The wind picks right back up into the 16-22 mph range from the north through the end of August. This is a strong, fresh breeze with a lumpy cross-chop. The swell does pick up a touch at the end of the month, hitting 3 ft on Saturday the 29th and even 4 ft on the 1st of September, but the wind is just trashing the surface. This much cross-shore wind and choppy conditions makes it look better for a kite session than a proper paddle surf.

In the second week, we see the swell direction shift to the NW in early September, with periods dropping to 10-12 seconds. The size is there (3-4 ft), but the wind is still a problem. By Wednesday the 2nd, the swell is back from the SSW with a longer 17-second period, but the wind is up again. A persistent, strong cross-wind just kills the quality here.

Rusty.

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