Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
12.9°C
1.7° 

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 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period, NW swell with 1,336 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 2.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Mon 31st Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Most Powerful11AM (Thu 3rd Sep)7ft (2.2m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s talk about Cape Mendocino. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, but I’ve got my eye on a couple of moments that could be worth the paddle out. It’s an exposed spot that’s fairly consistent, but the wind is going to be the main player here.

First up, the water is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, sitting at 55°F with a anomaly of -3°F, so it’s a bit nippier than average. That’s the first thing you’ll feel when you hit the water.

The early part of the forecast is a bit of a write-off. From Friday 28th August through to the end of the month, we’ve got a cross wind blowing between 18 and 19 mph, and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions”. The swell is there – a mix of SW and SSW swell, with heights around 2ft to 4ft – but that wind is just going to mess it up. It’s lumpy and choppy, not the kind of thing you want to be out in. The combined swell energy is moderate, ranging from 563 to 924, but it’s all for nothing with that wind.

We get a little bit of a break on Monday 31st August and Tuesday 1st September. The wind drops right off, down to a light breeze, and the swell is still around 3ft to 4ft. The direction is a bit jumbled, with a mix of SSW and NW, but the period is a short 10 to 14 seconds. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast”, which is a step up from “poor”. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. The combined energy is still moderate, between 472 and 775. It’s a chance to get a few, but don’t expect perfection.

Then, from Wednesday 2nd September, we’re back to poor conditions and cross winds for a few days. It’s a bit of a bummer.

Now, here’s the standout. On Thursday 3rd September, we’ve got a proper swell pushing in. The swell height jumps to 7ft from the NW, with a period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is strong, hitting 2117. That’s a lot of power. The wind is a light breeze from the north in the morning, making it a light cross-shore. The wave comment is still “marginal”, but that’s mostly about the tide. For a surfer who knows what they’re doing, this is the one. This is big, powerful groundswell, so it’s for experts only. It’s going to be a heavy, powerful wave. The wind is the key here – if it stays light, it could be clean. Afternoon gets a bit of a cross-on wind, so the morning session on Thursday 3rd is your best bet.

After that, from Friday 4th September onwards, the swell drops off again and the wind picks up. We’re back to cross winds and poor conditions for the rest of the forecast. The second week just looks like a lot of choppy, messy surf with moderate to fresh cross winds. Not much to get excited about.

So, the bottom line: You’ve got to wait for Thursday 3rd September. That’s the one day where the swell is big and the wind is light enough to maybe make it work. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but that’s the highlight of the whole 16-day window. The rest of the time, it’s either blown out or just too small. It’s a bit of a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
0
0
2
3
2
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
17
0.7
SSW
19
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1.8
NW
8
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
1.3
NW
10
1.2
NW
10
1.1
NW
9
0.6
SW
18
1
WNW
9
1.6
WNW
9
2.2
NW
12
2.2
NW
11
2.1
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
281
315
759
751
627
733
546
405
400
325
210
328
268
188
249
147
413
1336
1183
936
Wind (km/h)
30
N
20
NNE
25
NNW
25
N
30
N
25
NNW
30
NNW
10
NNW
10
SSW
5
WNW
5
NNW
10
SSW
5
SW
10
SE
20
S
20
S
10
S
10
N
15
NW
10
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
00:03AM1.74m
12:58PM1.65m
00:47AM1.65m
1:25PM1.71m
1:37AM1.53m
1:55PM1.76m
2:34AM1.40m
2:29PM1.80m
3:43AM1.27m
3:11PM1.82m
5:11AM1.18m
4:03PM1.83m
Low Tide
6:22PM0.59m
6:43AM0.11m
7:01PM0.47m
7:13AM0.23m
7:44PM0.37m
7:46AM0.37m
8:32PM0.27m
8:22AM0.55m
9:27PM0.20m
9:03AM0.72m
10:30PM0.14m
9:54AM0.88m
11:43PM0.09m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:55
7:53
7:52
7:51
7:50
7:47
7:45
 mm
2
Temp °C
16
14
15
16
14
15
16
14
16
16
14
16
17
15
18
18
17
17
18
15
Feels °C
12
11
11
11
10
11
11
10
15
16
14
15
17
15
15
15
16
15
15
14
  • 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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