Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, NW swell with 680 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. 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 1.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for the Cape Mendocino stretch over the next couple of weeks.
First off, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days aren’t offering much to get excited about. Monday the 31st into Tuesday the 1st of September is looking pretty flat and messy, with small, weak swell and cross-shore junk. You’re better off waxing your board at home.
Things start to shift on Thursday the 3rd. That’s when we finally see some pulse. The swell picks up to 6ft from the WNW, with a period around 9 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is solid at 1092, and by the afternoon, the wind goes light and cross-off, cleaning things right up. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. This is the standout window for the first week. Thursday afternoon has that “excellent” feel to it – clean, punchy, and good for experienced surfers. That 6ft is a bit much for beginners, but if you’ve got a few years under your belt, you’ll be stoked.
Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th still have some energy, but the wind shifts to a cross-shore, making it a bit choppier. The swell drops a touch, and the quality fades. Sunday the 6th through to Tuesday the 8th sees the swell drop back to under 3ft, with cross-shore winds and mediocre energy. Not worth the paddle.
Then we get a bit of a wildcard. Wednesday the 9th of September, we see a big spike in the morning: 8ft from the NW at 9 seconds, with combined energy at 1437. That’s a lot of raw power, but it’s a short-period windswell, so it’ll be lumpy and tough. That afternoon, the wind drops to glassy, and the swell flattens to 2ft from the SW with a very long 20-second period. That’s a clean, glassy, but tiny wave. It’s more of a longboard or funboard session, but the glassy conditions are a treat.
After that, the second week fades into small, weak, and mostly cross-shore slop. Thursday the 10th through to Tuesday the 15th of September is pretty bleak – waves under 3ft, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with moderate to fresh winds and poor conditions. There’s a brief glassy moment on Sunday the 13th, but it’s only 2ft and very weak energy (184). That’s a super marginal session at best.
So, the best bet by far is Thursday the 3rd of September, especially the afternoon. Clean, strong, and solid. If you can handle a bit of power, that’s the one. For the patient, Wednesday the 9th afternoon offers a glassy, long-period sliver, but it’s tiny.
Stay tuned, forecasts can change, but for now, mark your calendar for the 3rd.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSE 11 | W 8 | SW 19 | WNW 10 | SSW 18 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
405 | 400 | 325 | 210 | 198 | 181 | 151 | 246 | 202 | 377 | 539 | 622 | 559 | 651 | 667 | 559 | 582 | 469 | 519 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 1:37AM1.53m | 1:55PM1.76m | 2:34AM1.40m | 2:29PM1.80m | 3:43AM1.27m | 3:11PM1.82m | 5:11AM1.18m | 4:03PM1.83m | 6:53AM1.19m | 5:06PM1.83m | 8:17AM1.27m | 6:17PM1.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:46AM0.37m | 8:32PM0.27m | 8:22AM0.55m | 9:27PM0.20m | 9:03AM0.72m | 10:30PM0.14m | 9:54AM0.88m | 11:43PM0.09m | 11:07AM1.00m | 1:00AM0.02m | 12:35PM1.04m | 2:10AM-0.05m | |||||||
— | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 4 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
306 | 183 | 121 | 54 | 196 | 181 | 141 | 138 | 111 | 377 | 539 | 622 | 443 | 626 | 667 | 459 | 365 | 260 | 176 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 5 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 15 | NW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
405 | 400 | 325 | 210 | 198 | 154 | 151 | 246 | 41 | 214 | 513 | 186 | 248 | 651 | 629 | 559 | 582 | 469 | 519 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | WSW 5 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSE 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
18 | 17 | 17 | 46 | 90 | 76 | 16 | 90 | 130 | 59 | 40 | 216 | 559 | 88 | 52 | 103 | 93 | 86 | 50 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 3 | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 202 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 152 | 152 | 0 | 21 | 86 | 21 | 188 | 170 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 151 | 0 | 151 | 80 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











