Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period with SW 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period. 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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 1.8m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | NW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
99 | 111 | 94 | 231 | 164 | 199 | 255 | 199 | 232 | 326 | 214 | 206 | 203 | 201 | 183 | 141 | 171 | 203 | 339 | 193 | 315 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:48AM1.27m | 7:30PM1.67m | 10:27AM1.34m | 8:25PM1.72m | 10:58AM1.38m | 9:14PM1.77m | 11:24AM1.42m | 9:58PM1.81m | 11:48AM1.47m | 10:40PM1.82m | 12:11PM1.52m | 11:21PM1.80m | 12:34PM1.58m | 00:03AM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:14PM1.05m | 3:24AM0.11m | 3:09PM1.01m | 4:07AM0.05m | 3:54PM0.95m | 4:43AM0.01m | 4:33PM0.87m | 5:15AM-0.01m | 5:10PM0.79m | 5:45AM-0.01m | 5:45PM0.69m | 6:14AM0.03m | 6:22PM0.59m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 |
48 | 54 | 90 | 231 | 164 | 368 | 248 | 199 | 109 | 40 | 214 | 206 | 203 | 201 | 183 | 141 | 133 | 145 | 92 | 173 | 315 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | W 13 | W 8 | W 12 | SW 15 | WNW 9 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 13 |
54 | 98 | 47 | 30 | 76 | 124 | 255 | 153 | 232 | 326 | 126 | 125 | 85 | 29 | 69 | 134 | 62 | 164 | 339 | 193 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 13 | W 15 | WNW 8 | S 12 | W 12 | WNW 7 | W 11 | SW 15 | S 12 | W 10 | SW 13 | W 10 |
99 | 111 | 94 | 75 | 30 | 199 | 106 | 192 | 146 | 126 | 71 | 38 | 75 | 75 | 17 | 60 | 171 | 72 | 53 | 88 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 3 | N 5 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 8 | NNW 4 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
— | 72 | 104 | 160 | 259 | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | 20 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 203 | 15 | 187 | 125 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 436 | 54 | 234 | 54 | 21 | 51 | 86 | 21 | 262 | 75 | 51 | 151 | 151 | 51 | 151 | 211 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 42 |
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.











