
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NW swell with 786 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Right on, let's get into it. This is Rusty, and I'm looking at the Cape Mendocino stretch for the next couple of weeks. Now, I gotta be straight with you—the start here is a bit of a bummer. We've got a run of poor conditions stretching from Thursday, the 9th, all the way through to Tuesday, the 14th. That's a solid six days of nothing to get excited about. The wind is locked in from the north, blowing cross-shore and keeping the ocean messy with lumpy cross-chop. The wave energy is weak to moderate (189 to 749), and the swell is all over the place but just not cooperating. The water's sitting at a cold 51°F, which is a massive 5°F colder than normal for this time of year—so you'll want a thick hood.
Come Wednesday, the 15th, and Thursday the 16th, it’s still not looking good. The waves get a little bigger—up to 8 ft on Thursday afternoon with a short period (8 seconds) out of the northwest—but that wind is still ripping at 19 mph, so it's just going to be a lumpy, blown-out mess. The energy jumps up to 1233, but without the right wind, it's no good for paddling.
Now, let's talk about the real standout. You want to circle Sunday, July 19th on your calendar. That morning, it's looking glassy. The wind goes calm, 0 mph, and the surface will be flat as a mirror. We'll see a clean 3 ft swell rolling in from the WNW with a solid 15-second period, and the wave energy is moderate at 473. But the real beauty is the afternoon—a 3 ft groundswell from the southwest, 17-second period, and light winds out of the WSW at just 3 mph. The wave energy jumps to 690. Everything lines up for really clean, quality waves at Cape Mendocino. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you might have a few friends out, but conditions this good are worth sharing. This is the best on offer by a long shot.
Things get a bit more uncertain after that. Monday, July 20th, brings some bigger energy—a 4 ft SSE swell with a very long 19-second period pushes the energy to 1332—but the wind is light and onshore in the morning, and then cross-onshore in the afternoon, so it might not be as clean. Tuesday the 21st sees bigger swell at 6 ft from the south, but that north wind picks back up to 12-16 mph, putting a cross-chop on it. The wave energy is strong (1434), but with that wind, it's not going to be the same quality as Sunday.
Towards the end of the outlook, on Friday, July 24th, we get a 6 ft swell from the NW with an 8-second period, but the wind is light and cross-onshore. It’s marginal. If you have to go out, the smart money is all on that Sunday, the 19th. It’s the cleanest window we’ve got.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 14 | NNW 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 20 | WNW 20 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
643 | 441 | 372 | 372 | 367 | 334 | 268 | 272 | 597 | 407 | 503 | 178 | 93 | 101 | 139 | 106 | 164 | 194 | 194 | 160 | 218 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 1:42PM1.56m | 00:24AM2.04m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:56AM-0.48m | 6:48PM0.78m | ||||||||
5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 14 | W 14 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 20 |
643 | 441 | 372 | 372 | 367 | 334 | 134 | 203 | 249 | 170 | 173 | 178 | 93 | 101 | 139 | 106 | 103 | 68 | 194 | 134 | 218 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 18 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | WNW 17 | S 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 18 | W 13 | W 13 | SW 16 |
— | 160 | — | 64 | 81 | 85 | 268 | 272 | 29 | 25 | 55 | 54 | 63 | 76 | 133 | 51 | 40 | 194 | 89 | 87 | 161 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | S 20 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | WNW 13 | NW 10 | WNW 20 | WNW 13 |
— | — | — | — | 18 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 70 | 44 | 49 | 58 | 27 | 160 | 54 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 |
416 | 530 | 502 | 199 | 93 | 47 | 37 | 64 | 597 | 407 | 503 | 414 | 398 | 297 | 185 | 164 | 164 | 175 | 315 | 227 | 468 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 437 | 54 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 316 | 647 | 54 | 294 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 80 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 334 | 436 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










