Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming down the line for Cape Mendocino. The forecast window has surf, but it’s a real mixed bag of mediocrity and one or two flashes of potential. The water is sitting at 53°F, which is much colder than normal for this time of year, so bring a thick suit.

There’s a small, inconsistent NW groundswell moving through right now, but the wind states are all over the place. The best window of the whole 16 days looks to be Thursday, September 3rd through Saturday, September 5th. That’s where the real energy sits. On Thursday morning, you’ve got a 6 ft WNW swell with a 9-second period and a light SSW breeze holding it cross-on. The combined energy is moderate (1070). It’s not the cleanest, but it’s the start of the run. Friday morning, September 4th, is the standout. Swell bumps up to 6 ft from the NW, still around 10 seconds, and the wind is light from the NNW, just cross. The combined energy cranks up (1498). It’s not offshore, but it’s light enough that the surface will be only slightly rippled. This is the best mix of size and power we’ll see. Saturday morning, September 5th, drops back to 4 ft but with a solid 16-second period from the SSW, and the energy is still moderate (1014). That long period means better shape, but it might be a bit straight for a beach break like this. Still, for a Saturday morning session, it’s worth a look.

After that, it’s a long slide downhill. From Sunday, September 6th, right through to Tuesday, September 15th, the swells get smaller, the wind picks up, and the conditions turn messy. The north winds become a constant feature, often fresh or strong, creating lumpy, cross-chop conditions. There are some sizeable swells in the second week—like 7 ft on Thursday, September 10th, and 8 ft on Saturday, September 12th—but the wind is against them. Those bigger waves are only for experts, and the chop will make it a battle. Honestly, from the 6th onwards, it’s a struggle. The only flicker of promise is Monday, September 14th, with a 6 ft NW swell and a clean WSW offshore breeze in the morning. That’s a genuine clean window, but the swell period is short (9 seconds) and the energy is moderate (664). Worth a look if you’re desperate, but not a standout.

To sum it up: Friday, September 4th, is your day. Hit the morning session for the best combo of size and light wind. Everything else is a gamble or a grind.

Rusty.

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