Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, NW swell with 1,121 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period with NW 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 18s. 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 2.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey crew, Rusty here checkin’ in on the Cape Mendocino forecast. Let’s be real – the first stretch looks like a dud for clean waves, but there’s a massive spike comin’ for the brave souls.
The First Week: A Grind
Starting Thursday, September 3rd, we’ve got a weak, cross-on 7ft WNW swell. The energy is moderate (1284), but light rain and a 10 km/h cross-on wind mess it up. Water temp is a bone-chilling 52°, which is 7° colder than normal – that’s a huge anomaly, so you’ll need a thick wetsuit. Friday the 4th brings a 7ft NW swell, but the wind is cross-shore at 15 km/h, so it’s choppy. By Saturday and Sunday, the swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, and the wind picks up to 20 km/h from the north, making it a total mess. Monday through Wednesday of the first week is more of the same – small, weak, and cross-windy. Not worth paddlin’ out for unless you’re desperate.
The Standout: A Beast Shows Up
Circle Friday, September 11th. A massive 10ft SSW swell hits, with strong wave energy (2821). The period is 13 seconds, so it’s got real power. The wind is light and cross-off in the morning, which is a huge plus. This is expert-only territory – 10ft is too big for anyone but the most experienced. The swell direction (SSW) is a little off from the optimum SW, but the size will still create big, heavy lines. This is the one day to get excited about.
The Week After: Fading and Fickle
After that Friday blast, the weekend of the 12th and 13th the swell drops to 6ft, but the wind is howlin’ at 25-30 km/h from the north, making it junk. Monday the 14th has a 5ft NW swell, but the cross-wind at 25 km/h ruins it. By Tuesday the 15th, the swell is tiny (2ft), and the energy is weak (170). The rest of the second week is a mix of tiny swells and cross-shore winds, with a little pulse of 3ft groundswell from the SW on the 18th with a very long 21-second period, but the energy is still only moderate (944). That long period might make it a bit straight for the beach, but the point could be interesting.
Overall, the only true standout is that Friday, September 11th swell. The rest of the 16 days is a lot of waiting for the wind to cooperate. If you’re an expert, get ready for that one big day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 688 | 991 | 1072 | 928 | 742 | 659 | 620 | 589 | 644 | 405 | 478 | 392 | 336 | 297 | 176 | 394 | 430 | 305 | 353 | 176 | 312 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:03PM1.83m | 6:53AM1.19m | 5:06PM1.83m | 8:17AM1.27m | 6:17PM1.84m | 9:14AM1.37m | 7:30PM1.87m | 9:58AM1.47m | 8:37PM1.91m | 10:36AM1.56m | 9:37PM1.94m | 11:11AM1.64m | 10:32PM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:54AM0.88m | 11:43PM0.09m | 11:07AM1.00m | 1:00AM0.02m | 12:35PM1.04m | 2:10AM-0.05m | 1:56PM0.98m | 3:10AM-0.12m | 3:02PM0.86m | 4:00AM-0.14m | 3:59PM0.71m | 4:44AM-0.12m | 4:49PM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 13 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 688 | 991 | 1072 | 928 | 716 | 456 | 294 | 260 | 644 | 142 | 478 | 392 | 336 | 297 | 176 | 394 | 430 | 168 | 151 | 171 | 164 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SSE 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSE 13 | S 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 513 | 186 | 553 | 651 | 742 | 659 | 620 | 589 | 194 | 405 | 188 | 95 | 93 | 236 | 174 | 118 | 118 | 305 | 353 | 171 | 271 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 19 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSE 13 | SSW 11 | NW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 13 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 55 | 248 | 132 | 125 | 78 | 144 | 142 | 86 | 34 | 68 | 47 | 264 | 233 | 56 | 156 | 81 | 111 | 166 | 130 | 176 | 312 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | NW 4 | — | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 168 | 14 | — | 151 | 180 | 311 | 243 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 86 | 51 | 0 | 21 | 152 | 0 | 151 | 151 | 0 | 152 | 83 | 40 | 151 | 151 | 0 | 86 | 151 | 40 | 151 | 68 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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