Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.3° C
3.1° 

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 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 21s period, SSW swell with 1,221 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period with S 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 (Jul 22) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 14s 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 1.2m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 1.9m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul)4ft (1.2m) 14s
Best Surf 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul)4ft (1.2m) 14s
Most Powerful11AM (Sat 25th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 21s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for Cape Mendocino. We’ve got a real run of poor to marginal conditions and not a single standout session to get excited about. The first wave of any note doesn’t show up until Monday morning, July 20th, and even then, it’s a struggle.

The whole pattern is dominated by a persistent NNW to N cross-shore breeze, which is a real buzzkill. For most of the coming days, the wind is sitting in that 15 to 30 mph range, and it’s almost always cross-onshore or just plain cross, leaving the surface lumpy and chopped. The water is a brutal 51°F, which is a massive 6°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a shocking anomaly, so bring a thick hooded suit.

Let’s start with the first chance, Monday morning the 20th. We’ll see a 6 ft NW swell, but it’s a short period 8 seconds windswell, and it’s meeting a cross-onshore WNW breeze at 3 mph. The energy is moderate (792), but the quality is already marked as marginal. The shape is going to be a mess. That afternoon, the swell drops to 3 ft but the period jumps to 16 seconds on a SW groundswell, which is a better direction. The energy is strong (909), but the wind is still cross-on from the NW. It’s a tease.

The rest of that week into the next is a repetitive loop of small, weak swells and cross-wind. We see a few pulses of longer period SW and SSW groundswell, like the 24-second stuff on Friday the 24th with strong energy (1130), but the N wind is cranking at 30 mph and it’s a cross-shore, lumpy mess. The break is fairly consistent and exposed to the SW, which is a plus, but it’s not enough to save it.

Around the 25th to the 28th, the combined energy climbs into the 1200-1600 range, which is strong. The swell holds around 3 ft to 4 ft from the SW, with periods of 17 to 21 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. But again, the wind is a relentless cross-shore from the N or NNW at 25 to 30 mph. The forecast for these days is still just marginal or poor. For a break like Cape Mendocino, that long period swell is better on a point or reef, but here the wind is just ruining the surface.

By the time we hit the end of the month and into the beginning of August, the wind actually picks up to 30 to 35 mph, and the swell period drops back to 8 to 12 seconds. The energy drops to the 200-900 range, and the surf quality is marked as poor across the board. The 1st of August brings a 6 ft NW windswell, but with that 35 mph N wind, it’s going to be a complete washing machine. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, bottom line fellas: there is no true standout here. The best of a bad bunch is probably the morning of the 28th of July, with a 4 ft SW swell (17 seconds) and moderate energy of 1000, but the wind is still a cross-shore from the N at 25 mph. You might find a few clean shoulders if you sit in the right spot, but you’ll be working for it. Don’t get your hopes up for the second week; it’s a write-off with strong winds and weak, short period choppy waves.

It’s a tough run for the Cape, but the coast can turn around quick. Stay tuned.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
3
2
0
2
1
0
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
17
0.9
SW
17
1.7
NW
8
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SSW
15
1.2
S
14
0.7
SSW
15
0.8
S
10
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
26
0.6
SSW
24
0.9
SW
24
0.6
SW
23
1.2
SSW
21
1
SW
21
1
SW
20
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
434
419
371
362
367
245
275
577
195
130
220
236
233
447
374
801
440
1221
890
746
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
15
N
5
WNW
10
NW
15
N
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNE
15
NNW
15
NNW
10
N
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNE
20
NNW
30
N
20
N
30
NNW
25
N
20
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
4:20PM1.72m
4:18AM1.27m
5:00PM1.73m
5:43AM1.12m
5:42PM1.73m
7:28AM1.07m
6:27PM1.73m
9:03AM1.12m
7:14PM1.74m
10:11AM1.21m
8:03PM1.75m
11:00AM1.28m
8:50PM1.78m
Low Tide
10:56PM0.49m
10:31AM0.41m
00:05AM0.40m
11:20AM0.62m
1:13AM0.29m
12:16PM0.80m
2:16AM0.19m
1:21PM0.93m
3:10AM0.09m
2:25PM1.00m
3:58AM0.01m
3:21PM1.02m
4:39AM-0.05m
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:44
8:43
8:42
8:42
8:40
8:39
8:38
 mm
Temp °C
16
14
15
16
14
17
18
16
18
19
16
17
18
16
17
17
14
15
15
13
Feels °C
14
11
15
15
13
15
16
13
16
17
14
15
16
13
14
13
10
10
10
9
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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