Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, let's get straight into it. Right now, things are looking pretty flat and messy for the cape. We've got a long stretch ahead with very little to get excited about, so strap in.

We're starting off on Friday, 3rd July, with small, weak swell from the SSW at just 2 ft, but the wind is howling out of the north at 15 mph, making for a lumpy cross-shore chop. The energy is weak (285), and the whole setup is just poor. This pattern sticks around through the weekend. Saturday, 4th July, sees a brief bump to 7 ft from the NW, but that's short-period wind swell at 8 seconds, blasted by a 18 mph NNW breeze. The water is sitting about average for the time of year. This is more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-surfing one with that strong cross-wind and lumpy chop. The energy jumps up to (688), but the quality is just not there.

We finally get a whiff of something a little more interesting on Monday, 6th July. Cape Mendocino looks at a 7 ft swell from the NW in the morning. The period is still short at 9 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore at 9 mph, creating a choppy surface. The energy is strong (1118), and it's labeled as marginal. However, for an advanced spot, there might be some raw power to work with, but it's going to be a battle with the wind. It's also a bit much for beginners. The afternoon sees a similar 7 ft swell, but the wind picks up, making it even rougher.

After that brief pulse, we slip back into a long, flat spell. From Tuesday, 7th July, right through to the 18th of July, it's just day after day of small, weak, and badly wind-affected swell. The energy figures are mostly in the moderate range (300-600), with periods either too short or too long for this exposed beach setup, and the wind never lays down. There are no standouts, no clean windows, nothing worth paddling out for. The forecast is consistent in its mediocrity, unfortunately.

So, bottom line: The only semi-interesting moment is Monday, 6th July, for advanced surfers who don't mind a chop. But for the rest of this 16-day stretch, you're better off waiting for the next system to roll through. It's a tough run for the cape.

Rusty.

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