
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 576 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 5AM (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 Friday (Aug 14) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s 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 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s coming up.
Honestly, right out of the gate, it’s pretty grim. There’s a solid run of poor surf conditions lasting all through the first week and into the middle of the following week. The wind is a constant problem, mostly a fresh cross-shore breeze howling at 19 mph, turning the ocean into lumpy cross-chop. The water is also *much* colder than normal at 52°F – that’s a huge anomaly of -5°F, so you’ll be wanting the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.
The first real glimmer of something rideable shows up on Saturday, the 15th of August. Cape Mendocino starts to see a modest bump in swell, about 3 ft from the SSW, with a solid 16-second period. The wind finally eases to a light breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore, so it’s only marginal. The combined energy climbs to 633 (moderate), but it’s not a standout.
The best of the whole outlook comes on Wednesday the 19th. We get a proper pulse of WNW groundswell, pushing 6 ft with a period of 12 seconds. The energy jumps right up to 1291 (strong). The wind is cross-shore but only a gentle to moderate breeze, so it won’t be completely trashed. This is the pick of the fortnight – it has size and some push, but that 6 ft is getting into expert territory for the average punter, especially at a fairly consistent spot like Cape Mendocino. It’s a point break setup, so that long-period swell should wrap in nicely.
After that, it fades back into mediocrity. Thursday the 20th holds some size around 5 ft from the WNW, but the wind picks up again and the period drops off. By the weekend of the 22nd, it’s back to poor conditions and choppy mess.
If you’re a kiter, those early days with 19 mph cross-shore winds and lumpy sea state look far more interesting than they do for a paddle surfer. For the rest of us, aim for that Wednesday the 19th and hope the forecast holds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Tue night, light winds from the NNE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
235 | 240 | 146 | 263 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 134 | 95 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 193 | 152 | 212 | 249 | |
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-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 1:36PM1.71m | 1:08AM1.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:11AM-0.11m | 7:28PM0.49m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | 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 | SSW 16 | NNW 9 | SW 16 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 |
235 | 240 | 146 | 263 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 59 | 70 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 1261 | 201 | 1032 | 559 | 384 | 240 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 18 |
37 | 47 | 56 | 37 | 28 | 72 | 67 | 98 | 134 | 95 | 113 | 53 | 34 | 68 | 70 | 206 | 21 | 193 | 152 | 103 | 249 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 11 | SW 12 | W 12 | SW 23 | W 12 | SSW 11 | W 15 | S 10 | SW 15 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 15 | W 18 | NW 16 | S 11 | SW 22 | S 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 |
33 | 21 | 27 | 21 | 26 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 60 | 18 | 33 | 33 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 21 | 127 | 212 | 140 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — |
229 | 334 | 688 | 741 | 741 | 1474 | 1020 | 837 | 1266 | 1044 | 789 | 1261 | 1039 | 1168 | 1916 | — | 1045 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 54 | 40 | 262 | 750 | 54 | 561 | 80 | 41 | 334 | 54 | 54 | 219 | 100 | 54 | 51 | 54 | 40 | 191 | 51 | 0 |
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.











