Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 08 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.4° C
2.8° 

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 8 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, NW swell with 723 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Mendocino this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 2.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2PM (Sun 12th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s

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


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.

I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is looking pretty grim. There’s a long, quiet run ahead full of cross-shore winds and lumpy, poor surf. The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t come until the very end of the period, and even then, it’s small.

The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 8th kicks off with a 3 ft SSW swell at a long 18 seconds, but the cross-shore wind at 15 to 19 mph and cold water at 51°F – that’s a whopping 5°F colder than normal for this time of year – makes it a no-go. Thursday through Saturday the 11th are even worse: tiny swell under 3 ft, fresh cross-shore winds, and the forecasts are all poor. Combined wave energy dips into the 300-400 range – weak stuff.

Then Sunday the 12th through the following week, the swell tries to pick up a little – Sunday morning sees a 7 ft NW swell, but it’s short-period windswell at just 7 seconds, cross-shore winds at 19 mph, and the lumpy conditions make it messy. The energy hits 691 (moderate), but the quality is just not there. The whole week from the 13th to the 18th is nothing but poor surf, with the wind never letting up out of the north or north-northwest, always cross or cross-on.

Here’s the one bright spot, and it’s a long way off. On Sunday the 19th, late in the afternoon, we get a window of glassy conditions. A light westerly breeze at 3 mph goes dead calm. The swell is only 3 ft from the SW at 17 seconds – a long-period groundswell. That’s the standout of the entire 16 days. The energy is 666 (moderate), and with the water being glassy, it’ll be clean. But, it’s small, so it’s a mellow, long-period swell that’ll work best at the points and reefs – it might break too straight for the beach. Crowds are possible, so keep an eye on it.

After that, Monday the 20th through the 23rd, the wind picks right back up to cross-shore, and we’re back to poor surf. The 23rd sees the smallest energy of the run at 282, with a 3 ft SSW swell.

So, the calls are simple: the next two weeks are mostly a write-off for paddle surfing. The consistent cross-shore winds and messy conditions actually make this setup look more interesting for kite surfing than surfing. The only real chance for a surf is the glassy window on Sunday afternoon the 19th – but it’s small, so keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
1.7
NW
10
2.1
NW
7
1.9
NW
9
1.7
NW
9
1.7
NW
8
0.5
SSW
13
1
NW
8
1.3
NNW
6
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
596
717
539
643
441
372
372
367
339
268
242
546
444
639
449
371
101
139
116
113
194
Wind (km/h)
25
NNW
25
N
25
N
30
NNW
30
N
25
N
30
N
25
N
20
NNE
25
N
30
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
25
NNE
30
N
30
N
20
NNE
25
N
30
N
20
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
6:14PM1.80m
8:06AM1.05m
7:02PM1.89m
9:33AM1.14m
7:54PM1.98m
10:39AM1.25m
8:48PM2.06m
11:31AM1.36m
9:44PM2.12m
12:18PM1.44m
10:38PM2.15m
1:01PM1.50m
11:31PM2.12m
Low Tide
11:48AM0.58m
1:46AM0.16m
12:47PM0.74m
2:45AM-0.05m
1:51PM0.86m
3:40AM-0.25m
2:56PM0.92m
4:33AM-0.40m
3:57PM0.93m
5:23AM-0.49m
4:56PM0.90m
6:11AM-0.52m
5:52PM0.84m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:58
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:50
8:49
8:49
8:47
8:47
8:46
8:46
 mm
Temp °C
13
15
13
14
14
13
14
15
14
15
15
13
14
15
13
15
16
13
15
16
14
Feels °C
9
10
9
9
8
9
9
11
10
11
10
8
9
9
8
10
11
8
10
11
9
  • Map Icons:
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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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