Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 11s. 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) 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 2.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the Cape Mendocino area over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the first week and a half is a bit of a struggle. From Tuesday, August 18th right through to the end of the month, we're looking at a run of mostly poor surf conditions. The wind is stuck in a cross-shore pattern, mostly from the NNW at 15 mph, which keeps things messy. Swell is small, generally between 1ft and 3ft from the SSW, with periods that are all over the place. The energy is mostly moderate, with readings like (326) and (512), but it's just not coming together. You'll see a few sessions flagged as "marginal" on the 19th and 20th, but honestly, with that cross-shore chop, it's not worth getting excited about. There's a real gap in quality surf until the end of the month.
Now, the best bet in this whole outlook falls on Monday morning, August 24th. It's not a big swell—only 2ft—but it's coming from the SW with a very long period of 18 seconds. That's proper groundswell energy, and the real kicker is the wind. We're talking a light WNW breeze at only 3 mph, which is glassy, near offshore conditions. That will make Cape Mendocino as clean as it gets. The combined energy reading is a solid (615), which is strong for the size. It's a tricky one, though, because that long-period SW groundswell will want to stand up tall and break a bit straight at the beach, so keep your wits about you. This is the standout. It's a fairly consistent spot, but it can get crowded, so get in early.
After that, things go back to the same old story. The wind picks up again, and the surf stays marginal into the first week of September. There's a pulse of short-period NW windswell on the 27th and 28th, with heights hitting 6ft to 7ft, but with a period of only 7-8 seconds and cross-shore winds at 15 mph, it's just a messy, blown-out wall. That's more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle-surfing wave. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no need to dig out the thickest rubber.
So, to sum it up: hold out for that Monday morning, August 24th. It's the only real window of clean, glassy conditions on a long-period swell. The rest of the run is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
334 | 178 | 249 | 291 | 273 | 305 | 314 | 233 | 226 | 236 | 156 | 111 | 99 | 99 | 112 | 106 | 181 | 164 | 155 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:06AM1.25m | 3:55PM1.71m | 5:35AM1.14m | 4:39PM1.68m | 7:24AM1.13m | 5:31PM1.65m | 8:53AM1.20m | 6:30PM1.65m | 9:48AM1.27m | 7:30PM1.67m | 10:27AM1.34m | 8:25PM1.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:12PM0.35m | 9:47AM0.67m | 11:15PM0.32m | 10:37AM0.85m | 00:23AM0.29m | 11:45AM0.99m | 1:32AM0.24m | 1:04PM1.05m | 2:33AM0.18m | 2:14PM1.05m | 3:24AM0.11m | 3:09PM1.01m | 4:07AM0.05m | ||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
8:12 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | SW 18 | NNW 8 |
334 | 178 | 249 | 291 | 273 | 186 | 242 | 225 | 210 | 73 | 115 | 110 | 78 | 54 | 67 | 796 | 617 | 164 | 392 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | WNW 15 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | S 14 | SW 19 | S 16 | S 16 |
22 | 100 | 84 | 137 | 213 | 305 | 314 | 233 | 226 | 164 | 156 | 101 | 99 | 99 | 31 | 106 | 181 | 76 | 124 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | WNW 16 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SW 20 | SW 21 | — | SW 18 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 18 |
9 | 48 | 2 | 98 | 16 | 18 | — | 54 | 58 | 236 | 55 | 111 | 48 | 50 | 112 | 95 | 75 | 30 | 155 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | — | — | NNW 8 | — |
198 | 211 | 254 | 257 | 408 | 325 | 173 | 130 | 109 | — | 57 | 76 | 78 | 106 | 259 | — | — | 572 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 149 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 54 | 40 | 211 | 54 | 52 | 151 | 151 | 40 | 294 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 51 | 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.











