Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.5° C
2.9° 

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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 13s period, S swell with 683 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period with S 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 (Jul 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 13s period. 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 1.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) 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 2.0m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 21st Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 21st Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s
Most Powerful11PM (Tue 21st Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, let’s talk about Cape Mendocino. Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks for you.

Honestly, the outlook is a bit of a grind for most of the period. The first few days are a write-off with messy cross-shore winds and poor to marginal surf. The water is running a very unusual 51°F which is much colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick hood and gloves right from the start.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the afternoon of July 21st. That Tuesday afternoon looks like our first standout. The wind goes glassy, and even though the swell is a modest 3ft from the SSW, that combined wave energy is a solid 539 and the periods are a long 16 seconds. That’s clean, lined-up groundswell. It won’t be big, but it’ll be the best shape we’ve seen all week.

After that, we go through another dry spell of messy, cross-shore conditions and lumpy chop. The wind is a pain, mostly from the N or NNW, keeping things choppy and frustrating.

We do get a big spike in energy around the 24th and 25th of July. The swell jumps up, with a massive combined energy of 2225 (Saturday morning the 25th) and 4ft from the SW with a 21-second period. That’s serious, long-period groundswell. But the catch is a strong cross-shore wind from the N at 15 mph, which will be lumpy and messy. For a spot this exposed, those long-period SW swells are better suited for a point or reef, but at a beach break like this, the long period can make it close out. It’s for experts only if you attempt it.

The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is the afternoon of July 31st. That’s a Friday. The wind finally goes glassy from the W, and we’ve got a solid 7ft of NW swell. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s windswell, but the energy is strong at 1008. The report says it’s “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” – that’s the best call in the whole run. At 7ft, it’s too much for beginners, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, that’s the session. The crowds are only “sometimes” a problem, so you might get a few out, but with that glassy top and solid size, it’s worth the paddle.

The rest of the run into the end of July and early August is just more of the same: cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions. Nothing else really stands out.

Keep your expectations low for the first week, and lock in that Friday afternoon on the 31st. It’s the only real window of quality.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
1
0
1
2
1
0
2
2
2
0
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WNW
19
0.9
WNW
18
0.9
WNW
17
1
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
0.8
SW
18
0.9
WNW
16
2.1
NW
8
2.1
NW
8
0.9
SW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
1.1
S
13
0.8
SSW
16
1.5
S
12
1.1
S
10
1.1
S
10
0.8
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
280
438
433
518
463
452
375
348
604
571
419
261
331
367
398
306
668
249
223
217
Wind (km/h)
30
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
15
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
20
N
20
NNW
25
N
15
N
15
NW
20
NNW
10
N
5
S
5
WNW
0
SE
15
SSW
5
WNW
10
N
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
2:22PM1.61m
1:16AM1.89m
3:01PM1.66m
2:11AM1.69m
3:40PM1.69m
3:10AM1.48m
4:20PM1.72m
4:18AM1.27m
5:00PM1.73m
5:43AM1.12m
5:42PM1.73m
7:28AM1.07m
6:27PM1.73m
Low Tide
7:46PM0.71m
8:23AM-0.23m
8:45PM0.65m
9:05AM-0.04m
9:49PM0.58m
9:47AM0.18m
10:56PM0.49m
10:31AM0.41m
00:05AM0.40m
11:20AM0.62m
1:13AM0.29m
12:16PM0.80m
2:16AM0.19m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:45
8:45
8:44
8:44
8:43
8:42
8:42
 mm
Temp °C
15
13
14
15
14
15
15
14
15
15
13
16
17
15
18
19
19
19
18
16
Feels °C
10
8
10
11
10
11
11
10
12
11
10
14
15
13
18
19
19
18
17
16
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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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