Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, NW swell with 2,206 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with NW 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM. 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next 16 days for Cape Mendocino.
First thing you gotta know is the water is runnin' a full 3.2° colder than normal for this time of year, sittin' at just 52.7°F. That’s a serious chill, so you’ll want a thick hood and gloves if you’re paddlin' out.
The first real chance to get wet isn’t until Tuesday, September 1st, in the morning. We’ve got a 3.6ft swell rollin' in from the northwest with a 10-second period, and the wind is a cross-offshore breeze at 9 mph. The wave energy is pumpin' at 510 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. It’s the only standout in the early stretch, but it’s a good one for a Tuesday morning session. After that, the wind picks up and the waves get messy, so don’t waste that window.
There’s a gap of poor conditions from Tuesday afternoon all the way through the end of the first week. The swell tries to show up on Thursday, September 3rd, with 6.2ft from the WNW, but it’s carryin' a 10-second period and the wind is cross or cross-on, leavin' it choppy and marginal. The energy is solid (1259), but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle.
The next real chance comes around Monday, September 14th, in the morning. We’re lookin' at 5.2ft from the northwest with a 14-second period, a gentle cross-shore breeze, and wave energy at 1144 (moderate). It’s a groundswell with that long period, which is gonna be better shaped and more powerful, but at a beach break like this, it might reel off a bit straight. Still, it’s the best call in the second week for a surfer who knows what they’re doing.
The final day, Wednesday, September 16th, in the afternoon, things get real big. A 9.8ft northwest swell with a 13-second period and an energy readin' of 3441 (very strong). That’s a lot of water movin'. The wind is light and cross-shore, so the surface might be okay, but at 9.8ft, this is expert territory only. The report says it might be too big for the break, so only the gnarliest locals should even think about it.
Honestly, the whole outlook is a mixed bag. The Tuesday morning session on September 1st is your best bet for a clean, fun wave. After that, keep your eyes on the 14th for a solid groundswell, and leave the 16th for the heroes.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 222 | 181 | 151 | 249 | 130 | 268 | 712 | 1771 | 1828 | 901 | 609 | 659 | 487 | 463 | 519 | 411 | 330 | 273 | 353 | 348 | 222 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:14AM1.37m | 7:30PM1.87m | 9:58AM1.47m | 8:37PM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:56PM0.98m | 3:10AM-0.12m | 3:02PM0.86m | 4:00AM-0.14m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 8 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 16 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 222 | 181 | 141 | 141 | 111 | 268 | 712 | 1771 | 1828 | 901 | 609 | 335 | 230 | 463 | 215 | 164 | 330 | 236 | 353 | 348 | 222 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 6 | SW 19 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | SSE 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 198 | 154 | 151 | 249 | 130 | 83 | 513 | 145 | 553 | 651 | 576 | 659 | 487 | 98 | 519 | 411 | 68 | 273 | 233 | 223 | 158 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 6 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 16 | S 10 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | 90 | 76 | 12 | 90 | 17 | 56 | 34 | 21 | 132 | 94 | 85 | 101 | 140 | 48 | 56 | 115 | 123 | 48 | 77 | 56 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | S 4 | S 5 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | NW 8 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 6 | 21 | 62 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 281 | — | — | 67 | — | — | 113 | 620 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 86 | 21 | 219 | 100 | 0 | 51 | 100 | 0 | 152 | 151 | 0 | 146 | 151 | 0 | 262 | 134 | 0 | 151 | 54 | 51 |
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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