Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
12.9°C
1.7° 

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 6 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SSW swell with 636 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. 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 1.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) 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 3.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 6th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 15s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 6th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 15s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sun 6th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in from the coast. Let's look at what's cookin' for Cape Mendocino over the next couple weeks.

Right off the bat, it's a slow start. The forecast period is wide open, but we’ve got a gap of several days with no real surf on offer. Honestly, we're lookin' at a stretch of small, lumpy, cross-shore conditions that just don't cut it for a proper paddle.

The first time we see anything worth talking about is around Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th, but even then it’s marginal. The swell is small – we're talking about 3ft to 3ft, coming from the SSW and SSE, with moderate energy. It's got that long period groundswell feel, periods of 13 to 15 seconds, which is good for shape, but the cross-shore wind from the N and NNW is messin' with it. You’re lookin' at a cross-chop, and it’s marginal or poor. Not the kind of thing to get out of bed for.

Come Wednesday the 9th, there’s a slight glimmer. The wind eases off to 3 mph from the north, just a slight air, but it’s still cross-shore. The swell is a mixed bag – a 3ft S swell with a short 11-second period and a later 2ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period. That long period groundswell is promising for shape, but it's still a bit on the small side.

Moving into the second week, things get bigger but uglier. On Sunday the 13th of September, we see a jump in swell height to 8ft from the NW, with a short 9-second period. That’s a lot of chunky, messy energy, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s lumpy. That kind of size with short period and onshore wind is a write-off for surfing.

The rest of the second week is a write-off, honestly. Swell sizes drop off to 1ft to 3ft, mostly from the SW, with moderate to fresh cross-shore winds keeping it lumpy. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The Best Bet? I gotta be honest with you, there's no real standout here. The whole 16-day window looks bleak for a proper surf. If you were to pin me down, Wednesday the 9th (September) morning has the lightest wind, even if it's still cross-shore. The combo of a short period S swell and a very long period SW swell might just give you a few clean-ish lines at Cape Mendocino, with 2ft to 3ft faces. But it's a big "maybe". Keep an eye on it, but don't hold your breath.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change. Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the N by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
1
2
1
0
1
1
0
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
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)
1.2
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSE
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSE
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
14
0.9
S
12
1
S
11
0.7
SW
19
0.8
WNW
12
0.9
SSW
17
1
SW
17
0.9
SSW
16
1
SW
16
1
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
653
405
400
236
243
236
229
158
166
225
250
368
180
504
560
441
483
453
314
Wind (km/h)
15
NNE
15
NNW
25
N
15
N
20
N
25
N
15
N
15
NNW
15
N
10
NNE
5
N
15
N
15
N
20
NNW
25
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
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
Low Tide
2:10AM-0.05m
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
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:50
6:50
6:52
6:52
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:40
7:39
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:32
 mm
Temp °C
14
16
16
14
17
17
14
19
20
18
23
23
20
20
20
15
16
16
13
Feels °C
11
14
13
11
14
13
10
17
18
16
21
21
18
17
17
12
11
11
8
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  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
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  • 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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