
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SW swell with 316 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 0.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch of coast is going to make you work for it. The next week and a half is looking pretty lackluster, with a whole lot of cross-shore wind and lumpy, messy surf. We’re talking days of poor conditions and very little rideable swell. You might be staring at a blank calendar from now until about mid-month. Don’t get too down, though; there’s a glimmer of hope hiding in there, but you’ll need to be patient.
Cape Mendocino is the only spot on the map, and it’s a fairly consistent set-up, but the consistency doesn’t mean much when the wind is howling. The water is running much colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want the thickest suit you’ve got. The first real chance for a wave comes on the morning of Thursday, August 13th. It’s not going to be pretty—marginal surf with a light cross-onshore breeze, but the afternoon cleans up nicely. The wind drops to nothing, turning it glassy, and you’ve got a 2ft southwest swell rolling in with a long 16-second period. It’s small, but it’s clean. That’s your low-tide fish board kind of day.
The standout, without a doubt, is the afternoon of Friday, August 14th. The wind goes completely calm, the ocean turns to glass, and we get a bump in size to 5ft of northwest swell. The energy jumps up to a solid 674 (moderate), and with that 8-second period, it’ll be a bit more lined up and punchy. It’s still not a giant, but it will be the best, cleanest surf we see in this whole stretch. The swell direction is a bit off from the optimum southwest, but the glassy conditions will make Cape Mendocino shine.
After that little taste, we’re back to the grind. The weekend of the 15th and 16th has some waves in the 3ft range, but the onshore wind messes it up. The following week doesn’t get much better, with persistent cross-shore winds and junky conditions. There is a pulse of northwest swell on Wednesday, August 19th, pushing 5ft with a strong energy reading of 993, but the wind is howling from the north at 15 mph, making it a total washing machine. That one’s for the kite surfers, not the paddle crew. For us surfers, it’s going to be a long, frustrating stretch with only one true standout day.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 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) | SW 18 | NNW 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
85 | 153 | 109 | 235 | 240 | 146 | 198 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 134 | 95 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 245 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 8:19AM1.14m | 6:32PM1.91m | 9:34AM1.24m | 7:36PM1.98m | 10:27AM1.35m | 8:39PM2.04m | 11:10AM1.45m | 9:39PM2.09m | 11:49AM1.53m | 10:34PM2.09m | 12:26PM1.60m | 11:26PM2.05m | 1:02PM1.66m | 00:17AM1.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:27PM0.95m | 2:27AM-0.06m | 1:45PM1.00m | 3:27AM-0.20m | 2:55PM0.97m | 4:20AM-0.29m | 3:57PM0.89m | 5:08AM-0.34m | 4:52PM0.79m | 5:51AM-0.32m | 5:45PM0.68m | 6:32AM-0.24m | 6:36PM0.58m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 |
57 | 79 | 109 | 235 | 240 | 146 | 198 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 60 | 70 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 2223 | 1464 | 893 | 481 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | NW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
80 | 131 | 107 | 37 | 55 | 56 | 37 | 28 | 72 | 67 | 98 | 134 | 95 | 50 | 53 | 43 | 68 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 245 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | W 12 | SSW 19 | NW 11 | SW 12 | W 12 | SW 23 | W 12 | W 12 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 16 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | S 12 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 |
85 | 11 | 74 | 33 | 21 | 27 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 17 | 33 | 11 | 43 | 67 | 102 | 21 | 21 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — |
157 | 153 | 214 | 397 | 389 | 763 | 798 | 741 | 1387 | 1206 | 976 | 1238 | 1141 | 1011 | 1794 | 1233 | 1331 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 51 | 40 | 151 | 780 | 40 | 262 | 437 | 54 | 594 | 750 | 41 | 606 | 100 | 51 | 170 | 51 | 51 | 75 | 0 | 21 |
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.











