Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's take a look at what's cooking for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I'm looking at this forecast and it's a tough one. We've got a lot of days ahead with messy, cross-shore winds and not much in the way of proper swell. The ocean’s just got that choppy, agitated look about it, and the combined energy readings are really low, barely cracking the 100s and 200s for the most part. It’s a frustrating start for a spot that can handle a real swell.

We pretty much have a blank run from now all the way through to the first week of August. The wind is howling from the north consistently, 15 to 25 mph, keeping everything lumpy. You’d be fighting an uphill battle just to get out the back.

Then, things get a little more interesting around Wednesday, August 5th. The wind swings around to a light SSW, and we see a jump in swell. We’re looking at a 8 ft swell from the NW with a short 9-second period. That's a lot of raw energy pushing in, with the combined energy hitting 875, but that short period means it's going to be walled up and a bit of a handful. The water temp is sitting at 55°F, which is actually a touch cooler than usual for this time of year, so you'll want a decent wetsuit. Given the punch of that swell and the strong cross-winds forecast later, this setup actually looks more interesting for a kite session than for a paddle board.

After a little lull, we've got another window opening up on Saturday, August 8th. The models are showing a 7 ft swell from the NW, with a 10-second period, and a combined energy reading of 1031 – that's strong energy. But again, the wind is set to be a fresh, cross-shore N wind, so it won't be the glassy clean dream we'd hope for. This is really the only push of proper, moderate wave energy we get all period.

To be honest, if you’re desperate for a wave, the most promising, though still marginal, look is for Friday, August 14th. The wind is forecast to be light and cross-onshore from the NW, with a 3 ft SSW swell carrying a 15-second period. That longer period means it'll have a bit more push and shape on the sets, even if the size is small. The combined energy sits at 509, which is at least solidly in the moderate range. It’s not going to be epic, but it might be the most paddle-friendly day we get in the whole outlook.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on those forecasts.

- Rusty

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