Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NW swell with 844 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 15s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next week or so at Cape Mendocino is looking like a tough stretch. There’s some swell around, but the wind and chop are going to make it a real grind. The water’s sitting at 55°F and running a bit colder than normal for this time of year, which is a bit of a bite in the air.
We’ve got a long run of marginal to poor conditions from Sunday the 6th to Tuesday the 15th of September. Cross-shore winds, mostly moderate to fresh, with a persistent cross-chop. The swell is there – generally around 3ft to 4ft – but it’s coming in with short to moderate periods and the energy is moderate (combined energy values in the 300s to 900s). Not much to get excited about. The best of a bad bunch might be Tuesday the 8th morning, with a light breeze and a 3ft SSE swell, but it’s still marginal. Honestly, you’re better off waiting.
Now, Wednesday the 16th of September morning is where things finally change. We get a brief window of glassy conditions – light rain early, then some clouds, with a light wind from the WSW and NW. The swell is small, 2ft to 2ft from the SW and SSW, but with a long period of 16 to 17 seconds. This is proper groundswell, with moderate energy (335 to 337). It’s going to be clean and the long period means the waves will have some shape. This is the standout of the whole outlook. The break itself is exposed to the SW, which is a good match for this swell direction. It’s fairly consistent but can be a bit of a challenge – advanced only, and crowds are sometimes a thing here. This is your chance.
After that, conditions slip back into cross-shore winds and chop for the rest of the period. There’s a pulse of bigger swell on Sunday the 20th morning, with 3ft from the SW at 19 seconds and strong energy (1030), but the wind is cross-shore and the afternoon turns into a lumpy mess with 6ft short-period NW windswell. Not for paddling – that afternoon setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
So, keep your eye on Wednesday the 16th. It’s a short window, but if you can get out, it’ll be the cleanest surf of the whole run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the N by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 405 | 400 | 236 | 243 | 295 | 290 | 208 | 190 | 287 | 250 | 368 | 312 | 504 | 553 | 496 | 477 | 532 | 418 | 305 | 264 | 206 |
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-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:14AM1.37m | 7:30PM1.87m | 9:58AM1.47m | 8:37PM1.91m | 10:36AM1.56m | 9:37PM1.94m | 11:11AM1.64m | 10:32PM1.91m | 11:44AM1.71m | 11:23PM1.85m | 12:15PM1.76m | 00:14AM1.74m | 12:45PM1.78m | 1:04AM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:56PM0.98m | 3:10AM-0.12m | 3:02PM0.86m | 4:00AM-0.14m | 3:59PM0.71m | 4:44AM-0.12m | 4:49PM0.56m | 5:23AM-0.05m | 5:37PM0.42m | 6:00AM0.06m | 6:22PM0.30m | 6:36AM0.21m | 7:07PM0.22m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | SSW 17 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 405 | 400 | 236 | 243 | 295 | 194 | 223 | 202 | 247 | 253 | 193 | 114 | 504 | 279 | 496 | 477 | 532 | 418 | 305 | 264 | 206 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | N 7 | SSE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | NW 12 | WNW 11 | SW 17 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 21 |
| kJ | 142 | 107 | 218 | 233 | 226 | 107 | 208 | 190 | 287 | 250 | 114 | 209 | 157 | 553 | 163 | 76 | 34 | 42 | 35 | 34 | 67 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSE 16 | NW 8 | NW 12 | WNW 12 | SSE 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 19 | NW 11 | S 10 | WSW 18 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 68 | 193 | 68 | 38 | 56 | 290 | 158 | 125 | 166 | 132 | 368 | 312 | 169 | 149 | 90 | 64 | 15 | 31 | 8 | 30 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 |
| kJ | — | 10 | 22 | 113 | 149 | 302 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | 129 | 153 | 344 | 447 | 417 | 522 | 504 | 1012 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 438 | 40 | 151 | 54 | 21 | 80 | 80 | 0 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 151 | 51 | 40 | 334 | 437 | 54 | 151 | 436 | 80 |
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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