
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, NW swell with 603 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with SSE 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 (Sep 08) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, lookin’ at the Cape Mendocino stretch.
So, right off the bat, this is a tough run. We’re lookin’ at a solid stretch of pretty ordinary conditions for the next couple weeks, with just a glimmer of hope way out there at the end. For the first week and a half, the wind is just a constant problem – cross-shore and cross-onshore, blowin’ anywhere from 9 to 19 mph, making a mess of things. The water temp is runnin’ a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 56°, which is a bummer, about 3° below average.
The first real surfable suggestion doesn’t even show up until Monday the 7th, but honestly, it’s a no-go. We’ve got a small 3 ft SSE swell with a 14-second period and moderate cross-shore winds. The wave energy is moderate (691), but the conditions are just too rough with that wind. The whole first week is like that – small swells, messy wind. Wednesday the 9th afternoon shows a 2 ft SW swell with a long 19-second period, which sounds nice, but that moderate cross-wind kills it. You’d be scratchin’ your head wondering why you paddled out.
The weekend of the 13th and 14th, we get a bump in size. Sunday the 13th morning has 6 ft NW swell, and by Monday the 14th morning it’s 7 ft from the NW. But the period drops to 8 seconds – that’s short-period windswell, not much power behind it. The wave energy is strong though (797 to 797), but the wind is still a consistent 16 mph cross-shore. At that size with that wind, it’s a washing machine. This is expert territory anyway at over 8 ft, but the conditions just aren’t there.
We hit a real lull mid-week the 15th and 16th, with tiny 2 ft to 2 ft swells. Nothing doin’.
Now, let’s talk about the one bright spot. Lookin’ way ahead, the 22nd of September (Tuesday) is the standout. We’ve got a 8 ft WNW groundswell with a 13-second period – that’s proper energy. The combined swell energy is very strong (2409). The wind is a light 6 mph cross-shore in the afternoon, which means clean-ish faces. That’s the one to keep an eye on. It’s over 8 ft, so it’s experts only, and it’s a long-period swell, so it might jack up and close out on a beach break, but at a point or reef setup it’ll be firing. Just remember, we’re talkin’ over a week out, so forecasts can change. It’s promising, but not a lock.
Honestly, for the next 16 days, if you’re a beginner, don’t bother. For the experienced crew, your only real hope is that Tuesday the 22nd. The rest of the time, it’s a frustrating mix of onshore junk or small, weak swell. There’s a lot of days with zero recommendations, especially from the 15th to the 19th. It’s a tough forecast.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on that 22nd.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
304 | 295 | 290 | 273 | 247 | 278 | 196 | 368 | 312 | 419 | 493 | 441 | 477 | 459 | 418 | 305 | 396 | 415 | 406 | 452 | 127 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:58AM1.47m | 8:37PM1.91m | 10:36AM1.56m | 9:37PM1.94m | 11:11AM1.64m | 10:32PM1.91m | 11:44AM1.71m | 11:23PM1.85m | 12:15PM1.76m | 00:14AM1.74m | 12:45PM1.78m | 1:04AM1.62m | 1:14PM1.78m | 1:56AM1.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:02PM0.86m | 4:00AM-0.14m | 3:59PM0.71m | 4:44AM-0.12m | 4:49PM0.56m | 5:23AM-0.05m | 5:37PM0.42m | 6:00AM0.06m | 6:22PM0.30m | 6:36AM0.21m | 7:07PM0.22m | 7:11AM0.38m | 7:51PM0.17m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | SW 19 | WNW 12 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 |
304 | 295 | 290 | 211 | 173 | 247 | 253 | 368 | 184 | 419 | 493 | 441 | 477 | 459 | 418 | 305 | 301 | 241 | 186 | 142 | 116 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
233 | 226 | 118 | 273 | 247 | 278 | 196 | 112 | 312 | 157 | 115 | 100 | 57 | 22 | 90 | 79 | 33 | 29 | 60 | 57 | 127 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 12 | WNW 12 | NW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WNW 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | WSW 16 | WNW 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | SW 21 | WSW 11 | SW 16 | WSW 10 |
38 | 56 | 32 | 158 | 118 | 166 | 132 | 118 | 49 | 84 | 46 | 98 | 40 | 51 | 38 | 60 | 30 | 67 | 12 | 40 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 |
116 | 162 | 235 | — | — | — | — | 219 | 226 | 287 | 430 | 468 | 496 | 403 | 226 | 349 | 396 | 415 | 406 | 452 | 666 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 262 | 40 | 80 | 151 | 0 | 96 | 51 | 51 | 151 | 54 | 42 | 146 | 436 | 40 | 21 | 438 | 40 | 294 | 437 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










