Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, lookin' at the charts for the next couple of weeks up at Cape Mendocino. It's a bit of a mixed bag, and honestly, we're gonna have to be patient. The first week and a half is pretty lackluster, but there's a flicker of something promising further out.

Right now, we're in a bit of a dry spell. From Saturday the 22nd all the way through to the end of August, and into the first few days of September, it's just not happening. We're seeing tiny waves, mostly in the 1 ft to 2 ft range, coming from the SW and SSW. The wind is a constant cross-shore, which is putting a messy chop on everything. The wave energy is building a bit, hitting moderate levels (336) on Sunday the 23rd, but the surf quality is just poor. It's a frustrating stretch, about a week and a half of hardly a ripple worth paddling for.

Monday the 24th offers a tiny glimmer—a 2 ft SW swell with a 19-second period in the morning, and the wave energy is solid (609). The wind is a light cross-shore, but it's still just a marginal prospect. The same goes for the following days; we get a few readings with moderate energy, like 452 on Tuesday the 25th, but the wind keeps it from cleaning up. The water temperature is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want a good wetsuit.

Now, as we roll into the second week, things start to look a little more interesting. Friday the 4th of September is the first real standout in the whole 16-day window. The morning shows a 4 ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, and the wave energy is very strong (1106). The afternoon bumps it up to 4 ft (1246). Sure, the wind is still a cross-shore, but the energy is there, and the forecast is improving. It's a marginal call, but it's the best we've seen by a long shot.

But the real highlight, the one that has me a little excited, is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. We're looking at a 10 ft NW swell, but with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is massive, a very strong 1338. Now, this is a big one. At 10 ft, this is expert-only territory. It's a big, powerful, short-period swell, and with a cross-shore wind, it's going to be a beast. This is a proper challenge for the advanced crew, and it's the one to have on your radar if you've got the skills. For the rest of us, it's probably a day to watch from the cliff.

So, the long and short of it: the first week is a washout. The real action is on the 4th and 6th of September. The 4th gives you a chance at some solid, long-period SSW groundswell, but the 6th is the big one, a massive NW swell for experts only. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because long-range calls like that can change, but right now, that's the best offer on the table.

Rusty.

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