Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, NW swell with 844 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 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's cooking up at this spot.
Honestly, for the next week or so, it’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow. We're looking at a long stretch of pretty unsurfable conditions at Cape Mendocino. The water is sitting at 51°, which is much colder than normal for this time of year, so even if the waves were good, you’d be needing a thick hood and gloves.
Starting out on Saturday the 11th, we’ve got some small 3ft swell coming from the SSW, but a moderate to fresh north wind is ripping across it, making a right mess of things with a lumpy cross-chop. That pattern just keeps rolling on through. Sunday the 12th sees a bit more size, up to 6ft from the NW, but the period is a short and weak 7 seconds, so it'll be a crumbly, choppy mess with those same cross-shore winds.
That same onshore, cross-shore wind pattern doesn't let up all week. It’s just day after day of moderate to fresh northerly winds ruining whatever small swell is trying to show up. There's a little pulse of long-period energy on Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th, with some 2ft swell from the WNW carrying a beautiful 19-to-20-second period, but the wind is just tearing it up. Combined swell energy around (465-475) shows there is some energy in the water, but the surface conditions are poor.
The only time this setup starts to look remotely interesting is on Saturday, July 18th. We see a jump in size to a solid 7ft from the NW. That’s big enough to be just for experienced surfers. The swell energy gets pumped up to strong levels (1395-1576), but the catch is that it’s a short-period 9-second swell, and the wind is still a fresh cross-shore. It’s going to be a washing machine out there. The score suggests it's marginal at best.
Truthfully, this entire 16-day window is a low-quality run. The cross-shore winds are relentless, and it's not until you get deep into that second week that you see the swell periods get long again, but still no clean wind to go with it. There’s no standout day on offer here. If you’re desperate for a paddle, keep an eye on that model change, but as it stands, I’d be finding something else to do for a while.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 20 | WNW 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 330 | 334 | 499 | 365 | 537 | 229 | 371 | 306 | 139 | 106 | 103 | 194 | 194 | 160 | 218 | 286 | 280 | 348 | 344 | 390 | 463 |
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-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:39AM1.25m | 8:48PM2.06m | 11:31AM1.36m | 9:44PM2.12m | 12:18PM1.44m | 10:38PM2.15m | 1:01PM1.50m | 11:31PM2.12m | 1:42PM1.56m | 00:24AM2.04m | 2:22PM1.61m | 1:16AM1.89m | 3:01PM1.66m | 2:11AM1.69m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:56PM0.92m | 4:33AM-0.40m | 3:57PM0.93m | 5:23AM-0.49m | 4:56PM0.90m | 6:11AM-0.52m | 5:52PM0.84m | 6:56AM-0.48m | 6:48PM0.78m | 7:41AM-0.39m | 7:46PM0.71m | 8:23AM-0.23m | 8:45PM0.65m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 14 | W 14 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | NNW 9 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | 161 | 181 | 279 | 168 | 220 | 229 | 121 | 118 | 139 | 106 | 103 | 127 | 194 | 120 | 143 | 286 | 280 | 1226 | 344 | 390 | 630 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | WNW 17 | S 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | NW 10 | W 13 | WNW 20 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WNW 16 |
| kJ | 330 | 334 | 29 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 65 | 76 | 133 | 67 | 62 | 194 | 46 | 87 | 218 | 159 | 159 | 348 | 231 | 129 | 463 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | W 13 | WNW 20 | SW 16 | WNW 12 | SSW 21 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 8 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 70 | 51 | 80 | 90 | 89 | 160 | 161 | 30 | 42 | 145 | 74 | 74 | 103 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — |
| kJ | 15 | 35 | 499 | 365 | 537 | 421 | 371 | 306 | 185 | 199 | 181 | 103 | 145 | 98 | 219 | 840 | 919 | — | 1151 | 926 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 54 | 80 | 334 | 750 | 42 | 151 | 54 | 51 | 151 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 151 | 40 | 334 | 437 | 59 | 262 | 54 | 45 |
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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