Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with 717 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 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) 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 2.5m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Hey, it’s Rusty. Let’s talk about the Cape for the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking bleak. We’ve got a massive stretch of poor conditions with nothing worth getting excited about. The main problem is a nasty, non-stop cross-shore wind out of the north that’s gonna trash every wave that shows up. The water is a bone-chilling 51°, which is *much colder than normal* for July, so you’ll want a thick suit.
The only window that even slightly qualifies as surfable is Tuesday morning, July 7th. We’ve got a 1.5m swell from the NW with a strong combined energy of 1250, but it’s being shredded by a 20 km/h cross-shore from the NNW. The wave comment says it’s marginal, so it’s a rough, probably frustrating session for the hardcore locals.
And then? Nothing. From Tuesday afternoon, July 7th, all the way to July 22nd, every single check-in shows “poor surf conditions.” That’s over two weeks of junk. The wind stays cross from the north at 15-22 mph, turning everything into a lumpy mess. There’s a spike in size on Sunday, July 12th, with a 2.0m NW swell, but it comes with a short, weak 7-second period and 19 mph cross-shore wind. That’s windswell for the kites, not for paddlers, and at that size over 5ft, it’s experts-only chaos.
Even the longer-period groundswells we see later, like a 0.9m swell with a 19-second period on the 15th, get completely gutted by the wind. Cape Mendocino is a fairly consistent spot, so this kind of dead run is unusual and frustrating. It’s a total write-off. Hopefully, the forecasts change, but for now, do yourself a favor and don’t bother.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 496 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 717 | 539 | 545 | 441 | 372 | 377 | 372 | 275 | 268 | 242 | 546 | 407 | 418 | 492 | 372 | 297 | 139 |
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 | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:32PM1.70m | 6:21AM1.05m | 6:14PM1.80m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:58AM0.39m | 00:42AM0.38m | 11:48AM0.58m | 1:46AM0.16m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 717 | 539 | 545 | 441 | 372 | 377 | 372 | 275 | 268 | 125 | 249 | 170 | 173 | 178 | 93 | 118 | 139 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | NW 10 | S 19 | — | S 18 | WNW 9 | — | — | WNW 9 | S 20 | SSW 15 | S 19 | S 17 | S 18 | WNW 16 | SSW 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 258 | 70 | 171 | 171 | 92 | 188 | — | 160 | 65 | — | — | 113 | 8 | 242 | 29 | 51 | 55 | 53 | 66 | 76 | 133 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 8 | SW 15 | S 11 | S 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | W 18 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 |
| kJ | 11 | 5 | 220 | 9 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 70 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 11 | NW 10 | N 6 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | 496 | 437 | 51 | 188 | 251 | 531 | 616 | 618 | 790 | 632 | 362 | 186 | 164 | 123 | 546 | 407 | 418 | 492 | 372 | 297 | 171 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 437 | 40 | 316 | 437 | 54 | 316 | 437 | 40 | 262 | 437 | 40 | 151 | 437 | 51 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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