
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 19s period, SSW swell with 1,216 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Mendocino this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cookin’ at Cape Mendocino for the next couple weeks.
Honestly, the first week and a half is a bit of a bummer. We’ve got a little swell showing up on Sunday the 26th, but it’s not going to be a classic. The water temp is about 56°F, which is just a hair below average for this time of year, so nothing wild.
The main event is a very long-period groundswell out of the SW, with a period of 19 seconds and a combined energy of 1285 (moderate wave energy). That long period gives the waves real shape and power, but at a spot like this, it can make them a little too straight. We’re talkin’ chest-high waves around 4ft, but the wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph. It’s not glassy, but it’s not a total disaster. Sunday and Monday keep the swell going at 4ft to 4ft, but the wind picks up to 12-16 mph, pushing a cross-chop that’ll mess with the face. It’s just marginal.
From Tuesday the 28th, the wind really fires up to 19 mph and more, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. The swell fades, wave heights drop below 3ft, and the combined energy falls off a cliff. By Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st, we’re talkin’ knee-high slop with fresh winds. It’s ugly. This flat, windy spell stretches out for about 8 days with no real surf to chase.
Then, late in the game on Friday the 7th of August, the afternoon shows a spike of 5ft from the NW, but it’s a short-period windswell at 8 seconds and a combined energy of 631 (moderate wave energy). The wind is still a cross-shore from the N at 16 mph. That’s a lot of energy in a short-period wave, so it’s going to be a messy, bumpy wave. Not a standout, just a flash of size in a long flat spell.
Your best bet is the first couple of days, Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th. It’s not firing, but you could get a few. For the rest of the window, leave the board at home. This setup is lookin’ more fun for a kite than a paddle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1100 | 863 | 719 | 845 | 1104 | 837 | 679 | 1081 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 441 | 377 | 306 | 168 | 259 | 292 | 269 | 181 | 320 | 215 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:38AM1.33m | 9:34PM1.81m | 12:10PM1.37m | 10:16PM1.84m | 12:39PM1.39m | 10:55PM1.85m | 1:05PM1.42m | 11:34PM1.83m | 1:30PM1.46m | 00:13AM1.79m | 1:56PM1.51m | 00:53AM1.70m | 2:22PM1.56m | 1:37AM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:10PM1.01m | 5:16AM-0.10m | 4:52PM0.98m | 5:49AM-0.13m | 5:29PM0.95m | 6:20AM-0.14m | 6:06PM0.90m | 6:50AM-0.13m | 6:43PM0.85m | 7:20AM-0.09m | 7:23PM0.78m | 7:50AM-0.01m | 8:07PM0.70m | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 13 |
1100 | 863 | 719 | 845 | 1104 | 837 | 679 | 1081 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 441 | 377 | 306 | 159 | 214 | 292 | 269 | 181 | 320 | 215 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SSW 12 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
84 | 56 | 163 | 119 | 125 | 117 | 97 | 76 | 93 | 98 | 307 | 297 | 183 | 183 | 142 | 259 | 239 | 136 | 174 | 100 | 96 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | NW 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 15 | — | SSE 17 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | S 15 |
101 | 30 | 180 | 98 | 40 | 169 | 144 | 55 | 53 | 31 | 22 | 24 | 42 | 62 | 168 | 67 | — | 99 | 134 | 15 | 40 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | — | N 3 | NNW 4 | N 3 | N 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 |
— | 89 | — | 5 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 47 | 418 | 408 | 326 | 203 | 148 | 144 | 202 | 218 | 165 | 218 | 297 | 653 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 151 | 40 | 151 | 151 | 40 | 334 | 436 | 54 | 151 | 437 | 54 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 294 | 762 | 54 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










