Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, NW swell with 643 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 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s 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 | 11AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’re looking at a 16-day stretch for Cape Mendocino, and I gotta be honest with you, it’s a battle. The water is sitting at a chilly 51°, which is a whopping 5° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s much colder than normal, so bring a thick suit and booties. The overall pattern is dominated by strong, cross-shore winds and a lot of lumpy, choppy conditions. There’s a lot of days where you’ll be better off waxing your board at home.
We start off with a bit of a slow grind. Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th are pretty much a write-off. The wind is howling from the north at 19 mph, creating a horrible cross-chop on the 3 ft to 2 ft SSW swell. The waves are a mess.
Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th aren't much better. The wind is still a problem, staying cross-shore and fresh. The swell is a mix of weak NW and SW, all under 3 ft, and the energy is weak to moderate (218 to 384). The water remains brutally cold. It’s a flat, blown-out mess.
We do get a pulse of size on Friday the 17th. The forecast shows a 7 ft NW swell arriving in the morning. The energy jumps up to 1372 (strong wave energy), but the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit of a fat, lumpy mess. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NW at 9 mph. It’s still not great, but for a short window in the morning, it’s the only game in town for more experienced surfers. The size is pushing into “expert-only” territory for that 7 ft mark.
The whole second week, from the 18th of July all the way through to the 26th, is a tough slog. The wind refuses to let up, staying fresh and cross-shore day after day. Swell sizes hover around 1 ft to 3 ft, with some longer periods from the SW getting up to 24 seconds, but the wind is just shredding it. The energy stays moderate (219 to 776). There’s no standout here.
Honestly, the best bet on offer is the Friday morning of the 17th, and even then, it’s a marginal call. The wind is just a little too strong for the swell to be really clean. If you’re desperate, you might get a few, but don’t expect it to be a classic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | WNW 18 | NW 9 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 330 | 334 | 546 | 168 | 550 | 335 | 362 | 306 | 139 | 106 | 113 | 194 | 194 | 160 | 218 | 286 | 280 | 438 | 643 | 394 | 463 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 2:22PM1.61m | 1:16AM1.89m | 3:01PM1.66m | 2:11AM1.69m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:41AM-0.39m | 7:46PM0.71m | 8:23AM-0.23m | 8:45PM0.65m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 14 | W 14 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | NNW 8 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | 161 | 181 | 279 | 168 | 220 | 229 | 127 | 116 | 139 | 106 | 103 | 124 | 101 | 138 | 218 | 286 | 280 | 630 | 643 | 691 | 403 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | WNW 17 | SSW 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 |
| kJ | 330 | 334 | 29 | 25 | 55 | 54 | 66 | 76 | 133 | 67 | 62 | 194 | 194 | 87 | 161 | 159 | 159 | 438 | 433 | 394 | 463 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | W 13 | WNW 20 | WNW 13 | SW 21 | S 13 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 8 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 70 | 51 | 113 | 63 | 89 | 160 | 53 | 70 | 13 | 145 | 296 | 177 | 103 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 15 | 39 | 546 | 352 | 550 | 335 | 362 | 306 | 168 | 236 | 236 | 280 | 369 | 363 | 829 | 1272 | 1177 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 316 | 54 | 68 | 334 | 750 | 40 | 151 | 54 | 42 | 151 | 436 | 41 | 316 | 436 | 40 | 262 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 51 | 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.
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