Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 01 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
11.5°C
3.2° 

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 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 12s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, NW swell with 1,745 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with WNW 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. 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 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 3rd Sep)8ft (2.4m) 12s
Most Powerful 2AM (Fri 4th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into it. It's a bit of a waiting game for the next couple of days. The ocean's got a bit of energy, but it's fighting against itself and the wind is all over the shop for the next 48 hours.

We're looking at a slow start. Tuesday and Wednesday are pretty much write-offs. There's some swell on Tuesday, around the 4ft mark from the northwest with a 10-second period, but that south wind is just making a mess of it (moderate wave energy of 510). Wednesday drops off badly in size, and with that strong southerly breeze, it’s not worth paddling out for anything that’s going to be worth your time. We need to be patient.

Now, here's where things get interesting. The real action kicks off on Thursday, September 3rd. The swell is set to build overnight, pushing up to a solid 6ft on the morning and 7ft by the afternoon. This is a northwest swell with periods of around 10 to 12 seconds, and the energy is really starting to ramp up (1179 in the morning, jumping to a strong 1757 by the afternoon). It's going to be powerful, so this is expert territory, not for the beginners. The wind for the first part of Thursday is still a bit of a cross-shore breeze, but it's light. Friday, September 4th looks the pick of this first push. The swell holds at a robust 7ft, still from the northwest, and the wind is light and from the northwest. It’s not perfectly offshore, it's a light cross-onshore, but with that much power in the water, it should still be holding some excellent shape. The energy reading for Friday morning is a massive 1852, which is about as strong as it gets. This is the standout of the first week. Cape Mendocino will be handling this well, it's exposed enough to take the full force.

After that, the swell backs right down for the weekend and into the early part of next week. The period drops, the direction swings around to the south, and the wind stays messy. It's a real lull, a few days of pretty small, chopped-out surf with not much to get excited about.

Looking further out, the long-range charts are showing a bit of promise but nothing we can lock in yet. Around Thursday, September 10th and into the 11th, there’s a whisper of a long-period south-west swell making its way in, with periods of 16-17 seconds. The sizes look small though, under 3ft, so it's more for the longboard if it eventuates.

Then we see another pulse of northwest groundswell arriving late in the window, around Saturday, September 12th, with 7ft surf and an 8-second period. It's got some size, but that short period makes it lumpy and less defined. Following that, on the 15th, we see another 7ft pulse but again with a short 8-second period, and a northerly wind that'll be making things bumpy. The conditions look a lot less clean for these later swells.

There is another brief inbound swell around the 13th and 14th with a better period of 12 seconds, but it's just smaller, coming in at 5ft.

So, to sum it up, don't waste your time before Thursday. Thursday, September 3rd is the start of the good stuff, but Friday, September 4th is your best bet for a proper, powerful session. The later pulses have size but will be messier. Keep an eye on that Friday forecast, it's the one to circle on the calendar.

Stay stoked.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SE by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, 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
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
1
0
0
1
3
2
4
3
2
4
0
1
3
1
1
2
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
NW
10
1.1
NW
10
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
18
1
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
8
1.8
WNW
10
2.2
NW
12
2.5
NW
12
2.2
NW
11
1.9
NW
10
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSE
15
1
SSE
15
1.2
SSE
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
222
208
151
249
131
250
648
1323
1745
1069
709
659
487
469
519
491
400
236
387
468
675
Wind (km/h)
15
S
20
S
20
SE
35
SSE
35
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
15
SSW
10
SSE
5
NW
15
NNW
15
NNE
20
NNW
20
N
15
NNE
10
NNW
15
NNW
10
NE
10
N
20
NNW
20
N
Wind State
cross
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-on
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
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:45
6:46
6:47
6:48
6:48
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:50
7:47
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:40
7:39
 mm
8
14
1
Temp °C
17
17
15
15
16
15
16
17
15
16
17
15
16
16
14
15
16
14
15
17
14
Feels °C
15
14
12
11
11
10
15
15
14
16
15
12
13
12
11
13
14
13
13
14
11
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • 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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