Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for Cape Mendocino is a tough one to write. We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing much on offer, so let’s get into it.

The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off. From now through to Saturday the 22nd of August, we’ve got tiny, weak swell with poor surf conditions and persistent cross-shore winds. The wave energy is low, sitting between 203 and 632 (combined energy), which just isn’t enough to get excited about. The water’s a bit colder than normal at 55°F, running about 3°F cooler than average for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit if you’re even thinking about paddling out. Honestly, there’s no recommendation worth making here.

Now, things get a little more interesting but still far from perfect. On Sunday the 23rd of August, we see a spike in swell. The morning shows a 7ft swell from the NW, but it’s a short-period, windswell at 8 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-onshore. The combined energy jumps to 854, which is solid, but the quality is marginal at best. This setup is better suited for the kitesurfers than for paddle surfing – the waves will be choppy and lack the shape we want.

The only real standout window is towards the end of the outlook. On Sunday the 30th of August, the morning session at Cape Mendocino shows some promise. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW with a long 16-second period, and gentle cross-shore winds (9 mph) that will keep the surface fairly clean. The combined energy is a respectable 794, offering some grunt. This is a groundswell, so expect long lines and good shape, but remember it can be a bit fat on a beach break. For this exposed spot, it’s the best we’ll see in this 16-day run.

The rest of the period into early September looks like more of the same: small, weak swell, cross-winds, and poor conditions. There are no other true standouts.

So, if you’re desperate, mark your calendar for Sunday the 30th of August morning at Cape Mendocino. It’s not a classic, but it’s the closest we’ll get to a clean wave in this stretch. Keep an eye on the forecasts, though – it’s a long way out.

Rusty.

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