
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 22s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,254 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) 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 1.1m 9s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 22s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up on the coast.
Right off the bat, I gotta say, this isn’t a classic stretch of surf. We’ve got a long run of days ahead that are mostly gonna be a grind. The problem is the wind. It’s coming from the north and northwest, blasting straight across the swell, making everything lumpy and messy. The swell is coming from the SSW and SW, but it’s fighting a losing battle against that cross-shore chop.
For the first few days, starting Thursday the 23rd, we’re looking at small, weak surf. The water temp is a chilly 52°F, which is a whopping 4°F colder than normal, so you’ll be needing a thick suit. The energy is moderate at best – we’re talking 339 (Thursday morning) up to 1131 (Friday afternoon) – but it's all cross-wind junk. It’s just not worth paddling out for.
The weekend, Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th, the swell pushes up a touch to around 4ft, still from the SSW and SW. But the wind is still a cross-shore mess. The energy gets up there, hitting 1498 on Saturday morning, but the surface is going to be chopped up. It looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.
From Monday the 27th all the way through the end of the month and into the first week of August, it’s a grim picture. The wind stays on, the swell drops, and the forecast keeps saying “poor surf conditions”. There’s a long gap of nothing good from the 27th of July right through to the 6th of August. That’s over a week of not much to get excited about.
Then, on the final day of the forecast, Thursday the 6th of August, there’s a tiny flicker of hope. The afternoon turns glassy, with a light southwesterly wind. The swell is tiny, only 1ft from the SSW, and the energy is weak (105), but the glassy conditions mean it’s at least surfable. If you’re desperate for a longboard and a paddle, that’s your window. But it’s not a standout by any stretch.
Honestly, for the best on offer, you’re looking at that Thursday afternoon, the 6th of August. It’s the only time the wind lays down. The rest of the run is a write-off for clean, quality waves. The combination of persistent cross-shore winds and small, weak swell just doesn’t give us any proper standouts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | SW 23 | SSW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
261 | 233 | 220 | 374 | 964 | 558 | 1221 | 1051 | 872 | 1100 | 863 | 719 | 845 | 1254 | 973 | 679 | 943 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 436 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:03AM1.12m | 7:14PM1.74m | 10:11AM1.21m | 8:03PM1.75m | 11:00AM1.28m | 8:50PM1.78m | 11:38AM1.33m | 9:34PM1.81m | 12:10PM1.37m | 10:16PM1.84m | 12:39PM1.39m | 10:55PM1.85m | 1:05PM1.42m | 11:34PM1.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:21PM0.93m | 3:10AM0.09m | 2:25PM1.00m | 3:58AM0.01m | 3:21PM1.02m | 4:39AM-0.05m | 4:10PM1.01m | 5:16AM-0.10m | 4:52PM0.98m | 5:49AM-0.13m | 5:29PM0.95m | 6:20AM-0.14m | 6:06PM0.90m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
261 | 233 | 118 | 211 | 176 | 183 | 1221 | 1051 | 872 | 1100 | 863 | 719 | 845 | 1254 | 973 | 679 | 943 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 436 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 24 | SW 23 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | S 12 | SSW 12 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 21 | NW 9 | S 20 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 |
78 | 79 | 220 | 204 | 964 | 558 | 152 | 164 | 129 | 101 | 56 | 144 | 170 | 160 | 159 | 144 | 76 | 186 | 98 | 227 | 287 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | S 7 | SSE 13 | SSW 24 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | — | NW 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 13 | — | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | WNW 10 |
44 | 39 | 139 | 374 | 154 | 151 | 125 | 196 | 57 | — | 30 | 180 | 99 | — | 40 | 21 | 20 | 33 | 23 | 22 | 61 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | NW 7 | N 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | N 3 | NW 9 | NNW 4 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 5 | NW 8 |
— | 8 | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | 99 | 86 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 206 | 24 | 145 | 250 | 111 | 226 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 438 | 436 | 0 | 436 | 68 | 0 | 152 | 436 | 0 | 151 | 151 | 51 | 151 | 211 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 316 | 437 | 45 |
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.










