
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with 515 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period with SW 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Cape Mendocino has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – this is a tricky outlook. We’ve got a real mixed bag, with only one real standout window that’s worth circling on your calendar. The rest is a whole lot of messy cross-shore wind and chop that’ll have you wishing you stayed home. There are long gaps where I can’t in good conscience recommend paddling out.
The first bit of action worth talking about is on Saturday, the 12th of September. Cape Mendocino is the only break on the radar, and it’s actually showing some real promise that afternoon. We’ve got a clean 3ft SW groundswell rolling in with a long 14-second period, pushing some solid moderate wave energy (590). The wind is glassy out of the NW at just 3 mph, which is about as good as it gets for surface conditions. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a solid 3° colder than average for this time of year – so you’ll want a good hood and gloves. The offshore wind direction (E) is the sweet spot here, and this SW swell is right in the groove for this exposed break. It’s fairly consistent, but keep in mind crowds are possible here sometimes. If you can get out Saturday afternoon, that’s your best bet by a long shot.
Now, Sunday the 13th takes a turn. The swell bumps up a bit to 4ft from the WNW, but the period drops to a weak 8 seconds and the wind swings cross-onshore. It’s not going to be pretty. That trend continues through Monday the 14th, with the swell climbing to 7ft NW, but it’s paired with a strong 19 mph cross-wind that’ll turn the surface into a lumpy mess. Tuesday the 15th through Wednesday the 16th see the swell drop right off to a tiny 2ft. Even though it’s a long-period SW groundswell (16-17 seconds), the energy is weak (around 192-256) and the wind stays cross or cross-shore. Not worth the drive.
We go through the rest of that week and into the next with nothing but marginal or poor conditions. There’s a brief flicker on Thursday the 17th with 5ft NW windswell, but it’s short period (8 sec) and the wind is still cross. The energy is moderate (644-661), but it’s not clean. That’s about the best you’ll see until...
We jump all the way to Monday the 21st of September. That morning, the swell jumps back up to 7ft from the NW with a short 8-second period and strong energy (1088). The wind is cross at 16 mph, so it’s a powerful but messy setup. For experienced surfers only at that size, and the cross-shore wind won't do it any favours. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.
After that, it’s back to small, weak, and windy conditions through to the end of the outlook. A little bump in period appears around the 23rd and 24th with 4ft NW groundswell at 11-12 seconds, but the wind is still cross or cross-onshore. The energy is moderate (525-686), but without clean wind, it’s just another one to skip.
Bottom line: Saturday the 12th afternoon is the real standout. After that, it’s a long, frustrating stretch of onshore slop and cross-chop. If you’re a kite surfer, some of those bigger, windier days on the 14th and 21st might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a tough run.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on those forecasts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the N by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
301 | 293 | 224 | 397 | 513 | 435 | 503 | 147 | 140 | 122 | 87 | 121 | 121 | 104 | 338 | 311 | 160 | 303 | 303 | 303 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:04AM1.62m | 1:14PM1.78m | 1:56AM1.48m | 1:43PM1.76m | 2:54AM1.35m | 2:16PM1.72m | 4:02AM1.24m | 2:53PM1.66m | 5:28AM1.19m | 3:40PM1.60m | 7:07AM1.20m | 4:38PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:03AM1.02m | 11:28PM0.24m | 11:25AM1.09m | 00:39AM0.24m | |||||||
— | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NNW 8 | SW 16 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 |
256 | 293 | 224 | 397 | 402 | 84 | 188 | 147 | 140 | 122 | 87 | 682 | 121 | 403 | 338 | 311 | 212 | 202 | 193 | 147 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | NW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | NW 12 | SW 16 | S 19 | WNW 11 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
301 | 110 | 186 | 180 | 116 | 107 | 83 | 39 | 69 | 33 | 37 | 121 | 110 | 47 | 146 | 188 | 137 | 303 | 303 | 303 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WNW 10 | NNW 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WSW 9 | WNW 15 | WNW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 20 | S 19 | WNW 11 | SSW 18 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
33 | 86 | 59 | 92 | 127 | 8 | 84 | 18 | 37 | 37 | 67 | 118 | 25 | 104 | 160 | 162 | 160 | 167 | 165 | 108 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 7 | 513 | 435 | 503 | 605 | 650 | 798 | 759 | — | 554 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 167 | 438 | 40 | 294 | 436 | 40 | 219 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 51 | 0 | 152 | 51 | 0 | 152 | 437 | 52 |
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.










