Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 2 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NW swell with 824 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 02) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s kick the tires on what’s coming up at Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this forecast is a mixed bag with a whole lot of “meh” on offer.
We’re heading into a tough opening stretch. That Saturday, July 4th, brings a lumpy 2.1m swell from the NW, but with the period a short 8 seconds and fresh cross-shore winds out of the NNW at 19 mph, it’s a chop-fest. The water’s at 50°, a massive 6° colder than what’s normal. You’ll need your thickest wetsuit if you’re thinking about it.
Things don’t really come together until the second week. The best window by a long shot is around Friday, July 17th. We’re looking at a cleaner 3ft WNW groundswell with a proper 16-second period and good energy. The wind will still be cross-shore from the NNW at 16 mph, but it’s workable. That long period means those waves will have some grunt and shape, which is what you want at a spot like this. For the experienced crew, that Friday morning is the real standout target.
The days before that, from the 9th to the 11th, show some bigger swells over 8ft, but the wind is always cross-shore and the period stays short. That’s pushing into expert-only territory, and it won’t be pretty.
The rest of the fortnight is mostly small and limp, with tiny SSW and W swells and light but cross-onshore breezes. The 12th and 13th have almost no wind, which is nice, but the swell drops to around 2ft to 2ft. It’s mushy and hard to get excited about.
So here’s the bottom line: if you’ve got a session in you, make it for the morning of Friday, July 17th. That’s the one diamond in this rough. Everything else is either too big and sloppy, or too small and weak.
Keep your rubber good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 2 | Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 16 | SSW 15 | S 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 12 | NW 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 206 | 156 | 227 | 142 | 140 | 288 | 490 | 149 | 322 | 634 | 557 | 299 | 369 | 812 | 553 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 608 | 539 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:48PM1.38m | 1:05AM1.68m | 3:18PM1.42m | 1:47AM1.58m | 3:49PM1.47m | 2:35AM1.44m | 4:21PM1.54m | 3:33AM1.30m | 4:54PM1.62m | 4:47AM1.15m | 5:32PM1.70m | 6:21AM1.05m | 6:14PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:45PM0.96m | 8:24AM-0.15m | 8:32PM0.92m | 8:59AM-0.06m | 9:27PM0.85m | 9:35AM0.06m | 10:28PM0.74m | 10:14AM0.21m | 11:35PM0.58m | 10:58AM0.39m | 00:42AM0.38m | 11:48AM0.58m | 1:46AM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | NW 8 | WNW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 206 | 156 | 176 | 142 | 140 | 288 | 88 | 138 | 322 | 136 | 399 | 299 | 218 | 330 | 336 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 303 | 282 | 153 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | S 18 | SSW 17 | S 16 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 21 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 125 | 69 | 227 | 100 | 46 | 73 | 69 | 66 | 186 | 221 | 99 | 184 | 258 | 260 | 261 | 258 | 192 | 181 | 491 | 608 | 539 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 17 | WNW 16 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | SSW 21 | SSW 15 | SSW 20 | WNW 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 21 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | S 20 | S 19 |
| kJ | 28 | 25 | 22 | 43 | 42 | 44 | 78 | 149 | 85 | 99 | 47 | 207 | 260 | 6 | 28 | 11 | 70 | 191 | 171 | 68 | 118 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 8 | NW 8 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 | N 4 | NW 10 | NW 10 | N 4 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 848 | 564 | 419 | 321 | 251 | 337 | 490 | 544 | 302 | 634 | 557 | 223 | 369 | 812 | 553 | 399 | 22 | 303 | 446 | 14 | 178 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 219 | 780 | 40 | 289 | 54 | 40 | 149 | 54 | 40 | 146 | 437 | 45 | 151 | 437 | 52 | 262 | 437 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 59 |
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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