Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 27 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
13.4°C
1.2° 

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 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (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 Monday (Aug 31) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 31st Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 3rd Sep)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for the Cape Mendocino region. Honestly, looking at this 16-day window, it's a tough stretch. We've got a long gap of poor conditions to start with, and the run of marginal surf that follows has its own issues. It’s going to take some patience.

The early part of the outlook, from Thursday the 27th of August through to the end of the month, is pretty grim. The wind is a persistent cross-shore, mostly a moderate to fresh breeze from the north, which is putting a real chop on the surface. The swell is small, under 4ft, and what is there is coming from the SSE or SSW with long periods of 13 to 18 seconds, which is a groundswell. While that period has good energy, the combined swell energy readings (between 387 and 979) are only moderate, and the cross-chop makes it a total mess. You're looking at a solid gap of nearly a week with nothing worth jumping in for.

Things get a little more interesting, but still far from perfect, as we move into the first week of September. The morning of Tuesday the 1st of September offers a rare moment of relief. We get a light offshore wind from the west at just 3.1 mph, which could clean things up for a bit. The swell is a small 2.3ft from the SSW with a period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is weak (339), so it's not going to have much push, but that glassy window is the best we’ll see. Later that afternoon and into Wednesday, the wind swings cross-shore again and the swell gets a bit more mixed up with a short-period NW windswell. Then on Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September, we see the combined energy jump into the four-digit range (1180 to 1302), signalling strong wave energy. The swell height builds to around 3 to 4.6ft, still from the SSW with long periods (13-18 seconds). This should mean better-shaped waves, but the wind remains a moderate cross-shore from the north, keeping the surface lumpy.

The standout, or the best of a challenging bunch, would be the Thursday the 3rd morning session. It’s not a clean winner, but the swell is a solid 4.6ft from the NW with a period of 10 seconds, which is a better direction for Cape Mendocino as it's an exposed spot. The combined energy hits 1180, telling you there's some real power behind it. The wind is still a moderate cross-shore from the north at 12.4 mph, so it won't be perfect, but it’s the most promising combination of size and direction in the whole forecast. Just keep your expectations in check.

Later in the second week, around the 9th and 10th of September, we get more long-period SSW groundswell, but the wind is once again a persistent cross-shore or onshore. The combination of size, wind, and water temp doesn't come together for a solid call. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 56.1°.

On the 11th of September, we see a jump in swell height to 8.2ft from the NW with a short period of 8 seconds. That’s a lot of close-out potential. That size is only for experienced surfers, and with strong cross-shore winds creating a lumpy chop, it’s probably more interesting for the kite crew than anyone on a paddle board.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Tue morning).

Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
2
2
2
0
3
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
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SW
17
0.7
SSW
19
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
1.2
NW
9
1.1
NW
9
0.6
SW
18
1.1
NW
9
0.9
S
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
135
171
164
339
281
315
759
751
627
733
554
405
330
325
163
154
246
199
246
188
272
Wind (km/h)
20
N
25
N
20
NNE
25
NNW
30
N
20
NNE
25
N
25
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
20
N
20
NNW
25
N
10
NNE
5
W
15
NNW
10
NNE
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
12:11PM1.52m
11:21PM1.80m
12:34PM1.58m
00:03AM1.74m
12:58PM1.65m
00:47AM1.65m
1:25PM1.71m
1:37AM1.53m
1:55PM1.76m
2:34AM1.40m
2:29PM1.80m
3:43AM1.27m
3:11PM1.82m
Low Tide
5:45PM0.69m
6:14AM0.03m
6:22PM0.59m
6:43AM0.11m
7:01PM0.47m
7:13AM0.23m
7:44PM0.37m
7:46AM0.37m
8:32PM0.27m
8:22AM0.55m
9:27PM0.20m
9:03AM0.72m
10:30PM0.14m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:57
7:55
7:53
7:52
7:51
7:50
7:47
 mm
Temp °C
16
18
15
15
16
14
15
16
14
15
16
13
16
16
15
17
17
15
16
17
15
Feels °C
13
14
12
11
12
11
11
11
10
10
11
9
13
12
13
16
16
13
13
13
12
  • 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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