Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
13.2°C
1.3° 

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 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 551 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) 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 2.5m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sat 12th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 15s
Best Surf 8PM (Sat 12th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Most Powerful 2PM (Fri 11th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s

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 cooking for the Cape Mendocino stretch over the next couple of weeks. I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim run for most of the period. There’s a whole lot of poor surf conditions and marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions clogging up the calendar. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and that’s keeping the surface messy. The good news is there’s a real standout window right at the end of the forecast that looks like it could be worth the wait.

Right now, on Friday the 11th, it’s a write-off. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the SW with a long 16-second period (moderate energy at 616), but it’s being ripped apart by a 15 mph cross-shore wind. The morning is called “marginal” and the afternoon is just “poor.” The Saturday the 12th is similar – a bit of SW groundswell but with cross-on winds, so the surface is choppy. Sunday the 13th morning has tiny 2ft SW swell but the same onshore vibe. Sunday afternoon actually sees a jump to 6ft, but it’s a short-period NW windswell (9 seconds) with strong 15 mph cross-shore winds, making it a total mess. The whole first week is like this – fresh breeze cross-shore winds on Monday the 14th blowing out a 7ft NW swell, then the swell dies mid-week.

We hit a proper flat spell from Tuesday the 15th through to Wednesday the 23rd of September. The swell drops to 2ft or 2ft with very long periods (16-19 seconds), but the energy is weak (values in the 100-400 range) and the wind stays cross or cross-on. It’s just not doing anything. There are a few “marginal” calls in there, like Thursday the 17th afternoon and Monday the 21st, but nothing you’d paddle out for.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The real standout is Friday morning, September 25th at Cape Mendocino. This is the one to circle on your calendar. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the WNW with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 671 (moderate energy). The wind is dead calm – “glass” conditions. That is a major positive. The surface will be clean as a whistle, the water temperature is about average for the time of year. It’s an exposed spot, so it’ll pick up that WNW energy well, and the direction is right on the money for what this break likes. It’s a fairly consistent break, but be aware crowds are sometimes a thing here. This is the best on offer by a long shot – a proper, clean, glassy session.

The day after, Saturday the 26th morning, sees the swell size jump to 7ft from the WNW, but the period drops to a shorter 9 seconds and the wind goes light cross-on, so the quality won’t be as good as Friday. That Friday morning is your window.

For the most part, though, this area is in a funk. The setup with the strong cross-shore winds and messy swell makes it look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most of those windy days.

So, hold out for that Friday the 25th. It’s a bit of a trek away, but it looks promising.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

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

Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
2
0
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SW
16
1
SW
16
1
SW
15
1
SW
15
1
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.9
SW
14
0.7
SW
14
1.8
NW
9
1.6
NW
9
2
NW
8
2.1
NW
8
0.5
SW
17
0.5
SW
17
0.5
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
1.6
NW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
496
477
465
418
407
301
293
186
486
359
435
490
147
140
122
87
121
121
314
Wind (km/h)
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
10
NNW
5
ENE
15
NNW
25
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
20
N
30
N
30
N
25
N
20
NNW
15
NNW
5
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
11:23PM1.85m
12:15PM1.76m
00:14AM1.74m
12:45PM1.78m
1:04AM1.62m
1:14PM1.78m
1:56AM1.48m
1:43PM1.76m
2:54AM1.35m
2:16PM1.72m
4:02AM1.24m
2:53PM1.66m
Low Tide
6:00AM0.06m
6:22PM0.30m
6:36AM0.21m
7:07PM0.22m
7:11AM0.38m
7:51PM0.17m
7:46AM0.56m
8:37PM0.16m
8:24AM0.74m
9:27PM0.17m
9:07AM0.90m
10:23PM0.21m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:54
6:56
6:56
6:58
6:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:32
7:31
7:30
7:28
7:27
7:24
 mm
Temp °C
14
16
16
13
15
16
15
16
16
14
15
16
13
15
16
13
16
17
15
Feels °C
11
12
11
9
13
13
14
13
12
10
10
11
9
10
10
9
13
15
13
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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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