Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 01 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
11.8° C
2.1° 

Cape Mendocino surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NW swell with 305 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 1st Aug)6ft (1.9m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for any decent surf. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing really happening. The first real chance of anything resembling a wave that’s worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until August 11th, and even then it’s just a whisper. We’re talking about a solid week of straight-up poor conditions before that. From August 1st all the way through to the morning of August 11th, it’s a dead zone, with nothing but cross-shore winds and junk. That’s a tough run.

Now, let’s talk about the only day that even gets a nod of approval. On the morning of August 11th, we’ve got a little pulse of long-period swell coming in from the SW at 1 ft, but with a period of 19 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, which means it’ll have some energy behind it, but it’s prone to closing out on a beach break and might be better suited for a point or reef. The wind is light from the NW at 6 mph, which is a light cross-onshore breeze, so it’s not going to be glassy but it’s not a total washout either. The combined energy is 218 (moderate), but it’s described as marginal. Honestly, it’s not a standout, it’s just the best of a bad bunch. The afternoon of the 11th is a bit better, with a bit more energy (285, moderate) and a light cross-shore breeze, but the swell is still small at 2 ft.

The real potential, and I mean the *only* potential in this whole outlook, is the morning of August 15th. That’s a Saturday. We’re looking at a 4 ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, which is a classic long-period groundswell. The combined energy is a solid 1113 (strong), so there’s some real grunt behind it. The wind is light from the NNW at 6 mph, which is a light cross-onshore breeze – that’s the best wind we’ll see for any of these days. But it’s still listed as marginal, likely due to tide or the fact that a long-period swell this size can be tricky at a beach break. If you’re an experienced surfer who knows Cape Mendocino, keep an eye on this one, but it’s far from a sure thing this far out. The swell is 4 ft, which is fine for most surfers, but not for beginners.

The rest of the window, all the way through August 16th, is just more of the same: cross-shore winds, messy chop, and small, weak swell. The water temperature is about 53°F, which is much colder than normal for this time of year, so bring the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.

So, to sum it up: there’s nothing really worth getting excited about until the second week of August. The morning of August 15th is the only real glimmer, but it’s a long way off and the forecast confidence is low. It’s a tough outlook for Cape Mendocino.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
14
1.5
NNW
6
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.3
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.3
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SSW
18
0.4
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
134
138
96
92
70
49
44
43
41
86
79
36
73
100
69
91
85
84
80
131
74
Wind (km/h)
30
N
35
N
40
N
40
N
40
N
35
N
30
N
30
N
25
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
15
N
10
NW
15
NNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
N
20
NNW
30
N
25
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
2:22PM1.56m
1:37AM1.58m
2:50PM1.63m
2:28AM1.44m
3:22PM1.69m
3:30AM1.28m
3:58PM1.75m
4:51AM1.14m
4:41PM1.81m
6:35AM1.09m
5:33PM1.86m
8:19AM1.14m
6:32PM1.91m
Low Tide
8:07PM0.70m
8:22AM0.12m
8:57PM0.60m
8:56AM0.27m
9:54PM0.50m
9:34AM0.46m
10:58PM0.37m
10:18AM0.65m
00:08AM0.24m
11:14AM0.82m
1:20AM0.09m
12:27PM0.95m
2:27AM-0.06m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:31
8:30
8:30
8:29
8:28
8:25
8:24
 mm
Temp °C
17
17
14
16
17
15
18
19
17
18
19
16
18
18
16
17
18
16
17
18
15
Feels °C
13
12
8
9
10
9
13
14
13
14
16
13
18
17
14
16
17
14
14
15
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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