
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,081 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 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) 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 4.0m 10s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
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: the next 16 days at Cape Mendocino are a tough watch. The whole stretch is plagued by persistent cross-shore winds, mostly from the north, blowing at 15 to 25 mph. That means the surface is going to be chopped up and lumpy, with a constant cross-chop. The swell is small to tiny, and the wave energy is low to moderate. There’s no standout session, no magic window. It’s a flat, windy grind.
The first real chance of anything surfable is a long way off, on Tuesday morning, 28 July. Even then, it’s not great. We’ve got a 4 ft swell from the SW, with a very long period of 17 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, but it’s hitting a beach that’s exposed to the wind. The combined energy is moderate (915), but with a 15 mph cross-shore from the north, it’s going to be a mess. The water temp is about average for the time of year, no big anomaly to report.
The afternoon of the 28th bumps up to 4 ft from the SSW with an 18-second period, and the energy climbs to 1139, but again, the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. It’s a marginal situation, and the score reflects that. Wednesday the 29th is more of the same: 4 ft to 3 ft, long period, but the wind stays strong and cross. The energy is moderate to strong (935-1317), but it’s just not clean.
From Thursday 30 July onward, the swell drops off a cliff. We’re looking at 3 ft sliding down to 1 ft by the first week of August. The energy plummets to weak, two-digit numbers. The wind doesn’t let up, staying fresh to strong from the north. Nothing to get excited about.
There’s a brief, weird spike right at the end on Sunday afternoon, 9 August, where a 7 ft NW swell with a short period of just 7 seconds appears. The combined energy is 715, but it’s a short-period windswell, and the wind is still a fresh cross-shore. That’s a messy, lumpy wave for experts only, and it’s still rated poor. The following Monday, 10 August, has a 5 ft to 7 ft NW swell, but again, period is short (8-9 seconds) and the wind is strong. Too big for beginners, too messy for anyone else. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The final few days, 11-12 August, see a tiny 2 ft SW groundswell with a long period of 15-18 seconds, but the wind switches to a light cross-onshore. The energy is moderate (367-470), but the swell is just too small to do anything with.
So, there’s no standout. Honestly, the best bet is to not bother. The entire 16-day window is a write-off. If you absolutely have to get wet, the Tuesday 28 July morning has the most size and the longest period, but you’ll be battling a strong cross-wind. That’s the reality. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 14 | S 12 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
973 | 679 | 1081 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 441 | 419 | 306 | 171 | 211 | 239 | 239 | 144 | 171 | 107 | 92 | 71 | 49 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:16PM1.84m | 12:39PM1.39m | 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 | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:49AM-0.13m | 5:29PM0.95m | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
8:37 | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 14 | S 12 | S 11 |
973 | 679 | 1081 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 441 | 419 | 306 | 159 | 211 | 239 | 135 | 144 | 171 | 107 | 92 | 71 | 41 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 18 | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 15 | S 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
117 | 79 | 55 | 53 | 98 | 307 | 300 | 183 | 186 | 171 | 118 | 165 | 239 | 134 | 136 | 99 | 49 | 70 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 21 | S 12 | S 20 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | S 15 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SW 20 | SW 19 | S 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
45 | 144 | 3 | 119 | 31 | 22 | 24 | 41 | 20 | 96 | 104 | 64 | 183 | 77 | 15 | 15 | 21 | 49 | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NNW 4 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 6 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 |
5 | 13 | 174 | 189 | 171 | 449 | 326 | 148 | 115 | 97 | 119 | 111 | 58 | 223 | 304 | 1029 | 1114 | 1141 | 2133 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 51 | 334 | 437 | 80 | 151 | 437 | 54 | 211 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 316 | 436 | 80 | 316 | 437 | 54 |
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.










