Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, NW swell with 1,215 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 2.3m 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 1.8m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the outlook for Cape Mendocino.
Well, to be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for quality waves. We’ve got a few moments where the ocean is trying to do something, but it’s a real struggle to find any clean, well-shaped surf. For the most part, the wind and swell just aren’t lining up. We’re looking at a stretch from right now until the afternoon of the 3rd of September where everything is either too messy, too small, or blown out. There’s almost a full week of pretty ordinary conditions before we even see a glimmer of hope.
The best of a bad bunch comes on Thursday the 3rd of September. There’s a bit of a pulse in the water with a WNW swell pushing 6 ft to 7 ft. The combined energy reads 1206, then 1377, so there’s some moderate power behind it. It's got a 10-11 second period, so it’ll be a bit of a lumpy, short-interval groundswell. That size is getting into the range where it's better left to the experienced crew – over 5 ft, it's not for beginners. The wind is set to be light, but it’s cross-onshore, so it’ll still have a bit of texture. It’s not the clean machine we’d hope for, but it's the biggest option we’ve seen. For the record, the water temp is sitting at 53°, which is 5° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s much colder than usual, so bring a thick suit.
Moving into the second week, there’s a little flash in the pan on Monday the 14th of September. The swell is tiny, only 2 ft from the SSW, with a 13 second period. The real story here is the wind. Monday afternoon looks to go completely glassy. That’s a major positive for clean conditions. The combined energy is very weak at 215, so we’re talking about small, clean, gutless waves. It’s a window for a longboard or a funboard if you’re desperate for a glide, but it’s not something to get excited about. Then Tuesday the 15th of September afternoon looks to glass off again, with a 3 ft NW swell (277 energy), so maybe a slightly better chance at a ripple or two.
Honestly, if you’re a dedicated surfer, the setup for the 3rd of September (Thursday) is the only one that might give you a slightly more powerful paddle, but don’t expect perfection. The rest of the fortnight is a waiting game.
Stay patient, keep the wax warm.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 8 | WNW 10 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 325 | 210 | 222 | 208 | 151 | 249 | 130 | 346 | 638 | 984 | 1162 | 973 | 809 | 512 | 487 | 463 | 525 | 411 | 371 | 264 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:34AM1.40m | 2:29PM1.80m | 3:43AM1.27m | 3:11PM1.82m | 5:11AM1.18m | 4:03PM1.83m | 6:53AM1.19m | 5:06PM1.83m | 8:17AM1.27m | 6:17PM1.84m | 9:14AM1.37m | 7:30PM1.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:32PM0.27m | 8:22AM0.55m | 9:27PM0.20m | 9:03AM0.72m | 10:30PM0.14m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 105 | 54 | 222 | 208 | 141 | 141 | 111 | 346 | 638 | 984 | 1162 | 973 | 809 | 508 | 321 | 287 | 252 | 411 | 181 | 132 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 5 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 325 | 210 | 198 | 154 | 151 | 249 | 18 | 214 | 513 | 248 | 553 | 651 | 582 | 512 | 487 | 463 | 525 | 107 | 371 | 264 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SW 15 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 10 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 17 | 46 | 90 | 76 | 6 | 18 | 130 | 93 | 55 | 145 | 134 | 88 | 52 | 103 | 93 | 86 | 33 | 85 | 43 | 113 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 8 | SE 2 | S 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 438 | 0 | 21 | 86 | 21 | 51 | 170 | 21 | 21 | 59 | 0 | 152 | 146 | 0 | 151 | 211 | 0 | 151 | 134 | 40 |
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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