Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
13.1° C
0.5° 

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 29 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,360 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with NW 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) 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 4.0m 10s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Wed 5th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Best Surf11AM (Wed 5th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful11AM (Wed 5th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this stretch is a tough one for the next couple of weeks. Cape Mendocino is the only spot on the radar, and honestly, the waiting game is real. We’re starting with nothing, and it’s a long, frustrating gap before anything even remotely worthwhile shows up.

For the first week, from Wednesday, the 29th of July, through the following Tuesday, the 11th of August, it’s a write-off. The wind is hammering out of the north and north-northwest, all cross-shore, between 16 mph and 25 mph, just ruining any chance of a workable surface. Swell heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft – a lot of 1 ft dribble – and the combined energy is weak, stuck in the hundreds (108 to 994). It’s all poor surf conditions, with a nasty cross-chop. You’re better off finding something else to do.

Wednesday, the 5th of August, teases us with a big spike: 10 ft of swell from the northwest, with a short period of 9 seconds, and a massive combined energy of 1427. But that’s a problem. That’s too big for this break, and the wind is still a fresh cross-shore at 19 mph. That’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. Steer clear.

The only real glimmer of hope comes right at the end of the forecast. Wednesday morning, the 12th of August, we see a slight improvement. Swell from the west-northwest at 3 ft, with a 15-second period, and combined energy of 769. The wind drops to a light breeze, 6 mph from the west-northwest, but it’s cross-onshore, leaving small wind ripples. It’s still only marginal, with a score of 2 out of 10. Thursday the 13th of August is similar: 3 ft from the south-southwest (16-second period, 754 energy) and later from the southwest (16-second period, 682 energy), with light winds around 6 mph. These are the best on offer, but calling them a standout feels generous. The long-period swell (16 seconds) means clean, energy-rich lines, but at a beach break like Cape Mendocino, it might run a bit straight. Still, with light winds, it’s the closest we get to a surfable morning.

The water temperature is sitting at 56°F, which is about average for the time of year, with a -0.5° anomaly. Nothing unusual there.

Cape Mendocino is a fairly consistent, exposed spot when it works, and it’s for advanced surfers. The optimum swell is from the southwest, but we’re seeing a mix of west-northwest and south-southwest. It’s not aligning perfectly. Crowds are possible sometimes, so you might have a few mates out, but that’s not a worry with this quality.

So, there’s nothing for the first week and a half. The second week flirts with a few marginal mornings, but don’t get your hopes up. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, this is a blank run that feels normal for the area. Hang in there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
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
1
3
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.6
S
15
0.6
S
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
1.6
NW
6
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.3
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.3
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
635
539
436
419
306
171
169
239
183
148
136
97
74
70
49
67
43
41
86
79
34
Wind (km/h)
25
N
30
N
25
NNE
25
N
30
N
20
NNE
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
30
N
35
N
35
N
40
N
35
N
40
N
35
N
30
N
25
N
30
NNW
30
N
30
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
1:05PM1.42m
11:34PM1.83m
1:30PM1.46m
00:13AM1.79m
1:56PM1.51m
00:53AM1.70m
2:22PM1.56m
1:37AM1.58m
2:50PM1.63m
2:28AM1.44m
3:22PM1.69m
3:30AM1.28m
3:58PM1.75m
4:51AM1.14m
Low Tide
6:06PM0.90m
6:50AM-0.13m
6:43PM0.85m
7:20AM-0.09m
7:23PM0.78m
7:50AM-0.01m
8:07PM0.70m
8:22AM0.12m
8:57PM0.60m
8:56AM0.27m
9:54PM0.50m
9:34AM0.46m
10:58PM0.37m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:35
8:34
8:32
8:31
8:30
8:30
8:29
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
14
16
17
14
16
17
15
17
17
14
15
16
14
17
19
16
18
18
15
Feels °C
11
12
10
12
12
10
12
13
11
13
12
8
8
9
8
11
13
11
13
13
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Cape Mendocino:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cape Mendocino surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest