Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 14 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.8° C
2.6° 

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 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, WNW swell with 518 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period with WNW 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) 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 1.9m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 19th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 15s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 19th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 15s
Most Powerful 5PM (Fri 17th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, mate, it’s a pretty grim start. The first recommendation doesn’t come around until Saturday the 18th, and even then, it’s pretty marginal. The beginning of the period is a write-off. We’ve got a solid week of poor surf conditions with messy, cross-shore winds and tiny, weak swell. The water is way colder than it should be for this time of year – a full 5°F colder than average – so you’ll want a thick wetsuit if you’re even thinking about getting in.

The real standout, the only one that gets my heart rate up, is Cape Mendocino on Saturday the 18th. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got. We’re talking a solid 7 ft swell from the NW, with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined swell energy is strong (1148), so there’s some grunt behind it. The morning is a bit messy with a cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon cleans up to a cross-shore wind. The wave comment says “marginal,” but compared to the flatness before it, this is the one to circle. It’s definitely an advanced spot, and with the size, it’s not for beginners. The swell direction is NW, which is what this spot needs.

Sunday the 19th offers a bit of relief. The swell drops right back to 3 ft, but we get a beautiful, light offshore wind from the WNW in the morning. That’s glassy, clean conditions. The period jumps to a very long 15 seconds, which is a classic groundswell. This size and period will make for some nice, lined-up waves, but the energy is only moderate (725). It’s a better paddle-out with the long gaps between sets, and if you can find a bank, it’ll be a fun, clean session.

After that, the surf drops off again for the rest of the first week and into the second week. It’s a long stretch of small, weak, and messy surf. The wind stays cross or cross-shore for days, and the ocean looks pretty average.

The next flicker of life shows up around the 25th and 26th of July. We start seeing some bigger, longer-period swell from the SW/S. On Saturday the 25th, the afternoon sees a 3 ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 21 seconds and strong combined energy (1457). The wind is cross-shore, which is okay, but it’s a long way out. The 26th has a similar story with a 4 ft swell from the SW and a long period of 20 seconds, with even stronger energy (1586). These are promising, but it’s a long-range call, and the wind is still a bit on the strong side. If the wind lays down, those days could be absolute rippers for the points and reefs, but don’t book the time off just yet.

So, if you’re waiting for the best of the window, it’s Saturday the 18th for the most size, or Sunday the 19th for the cleanest, most user-friendly conditions. The rest of the time, you’re looking at a lot of flat spells.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
NNW
6
0.5
W
14
0.6
SW
18
0.9
WNW
10
1
WNW
10
0.5
WNW
20
0.6
WNW
19
0.6
WNW
19
0.9
WNW
18
0.9
WNW
17
1
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
2
NW
8
1.9
NW
8
0.9
WNW
16
0.8
WNW
15
0.9
SW
17
0.9
SW
17
0.8
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
106
103
194
154
183
218
286
280
438
433
518
463
489
475
348
259
434
419
302
362
367
Wind (km/h)
25
N
25
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
25
N
25
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
20
NNW
20
NNW
15
N
10
WNW
10
NW
10
NNW
10
NW
15
NNW
15
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
High Tide
1:01PM1.50m
11:31PM2.12m
1:42PM1.56m
00:24AM2.04m
2:22PM1.61m
1:16AM1.89m
3:01PM1.66m
2:11AM1.69m
3:40PM1.69m
3:10AM1.48m
4:20PM1.72m
4:18AM1.27m
5:00PM1.73m
Low Tide
5:52PM0.84m
6:56AM-0.48m
6:48PM0.78m
7:41AM-0.39m
7:46PM0.71m
8:23AM-0.23m
8:45PM0.65m
9:05AM-0.04m
9:49PM0.58m
9:47AM0.18m
10:56PM0.49m
10:31AM0.41m
00:05AM0.40m
clear
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clear
clear
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cloud
clear
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clear
part cloud
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:46
8:45
8:45
8:45
8:44
8:44
8:43
 mm
Temp °C
16
16
14
15
15
14
15
15
13
14
15
14
15
15
13
15
15
14
16
17
15
Feels °C
11
11
10
11
11
10
11
11
9
10
11
10
12
12
10
14
14
13
15
16
13
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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