Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 28 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
13.1° C
0.5° 

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 29 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 753 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 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 29th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this stretch is looking like a tough one for Cape Mendocino. We’ve got a full 16-day window on the table, but don’t get your hopes up for any classic waves. You’re looking at mostly poor surf with a persistent cross-shore wind that’s gonna make it lumpy and messy.

Cape Mendocino (Region_URL) is the only game in town, and it’s an exposed spot that needs a decent SW swell to light up. Right now, we’ve got a very long-period groundswell coming in from the SSW at 16 seconds, but the size is small – just about 4 ft on Wednesday morning. The combined swell energy is moderate at 998, but it’s not making clean waves. That north wind at 19 mph is cross-shore, and the water is about average for this time of year. The water is sitting at whatever it usually is, no major temp anomaly. This is a morning you’d probably skip; the chop is just too lumpy.

We roll through the rest of the week with the same story. Wednesday afternoon bumps the energy up to 1276, still with a 3 ft swell from the SSW, but that fresh cross-shore wind kills it. Thursday and Friday are even smaller, with swell dropping to 2 ft to 3 ft and the wind staying cross-shore from the N or NNW. The energy drops off into the hundreds. No standout sessions here.

Then comes Saturday, August 1st – we get a spike in height to 5 ft, but the period plummets to a short 6 seconds from the NW, and the wind is howling at 19-22 mph. That’s a recipe for complete windswell junk. Energy is weak on the afternoon, down to 274. This is honestly more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-worthy day.

From Sunday, August 2nd, onward, we hit a real flat spell. Swell sizes stay under 2 ft for over a week straight. The energy numbers hover around 100 or less, with a brief bump back to 244 on Saturday, August 8th. Even then, it’s a 2 ft swell with a 17-second period from the SSW – that’s a long period for a tiny wave, so you’ll see some long lulls between sets. The wind stays cross or cross-on, and it’s nothing special.

The only flicker of life comes late in the window, around Monday, August 10th. The swell starts to push back up to 2 ft to 2 ft, with periods in the 14-18 second range, and the energy climbs into the 400s and 700s. By Thursday, August 13th morning, we’ve got 3 ft from the SW at 16 seconds with a moderate cross-shore breeze – that’s the closest we get to “marginally surfable.” The energy is up to 756. It’s not a stand-out, but if you’re desperate, that’s your best bet. It’s still a cross-shore wind though, so don’t expect glassy faces.

That’s the full picture. A long, flat run with one or two marginal days way out there. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, don’t bother waxing up. This is a break for the kite crew and the patient.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
0
1
3
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.6
S
15
0.6
S
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
1.6
NW
6
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
911
635
539
436
377
306
171
169
239
183
159
136
97
74
49
49
67
43
41
Wind (km/h)
20
N
30
N
30
N
25
NNE
25
NNW
30
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
30
N
35
N
35
N
40
N
35
N
35
N
35
N
30
N
25
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
10:55PM1.85m
1:05PM1.42m
11:34PM1.83m
1:30PM1.46m
00:13AM1.79m
1:56PM1.51m
00:53AM1.70m
2:22PM1.56m
1:37AM1.58m
2:50PM1.63m
2:28AM1.44m
3:22PM1.69m
3:30AM1.28m
Low Tide
6:20AM-0.14m
6:06PM0.90m
6:50AM-0.13m
6:43PM0.85m
7:20AM-0.09m
7:23PM0.78m
7:50AM-0.01m
8:07PM0.70m
8:22AM0.12m
8:57PM0.60m
8:56AM0.27m
9:54PM0.50m
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:15
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:36
8:35
8:34
8:32
8:31
8:30
8:30
 mm
Temp °C
16
15
16
14
16
17
14
16
17
15
16
17
14
15
17
14
17
19
17
Feels °C
13
11
12
10
12
12
10
11
12
11
12
13
8
8
10
8
11
13
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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