Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with 708 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 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 5PM. 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 (Jul 05) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Cape Mendocino are a tough pill to swallow. The wind just won’t let up, and that’s killing almost everything on offer. We’ve got a long run of poor conditions, so you’ll be waiting a fair while for anything that’s even remotely worth a look.
Right out of the gate, from Friday 3rd July, it’s ugly. A 6 ft NW swell (586 energy) is getting hammered by a cross 25 km/h wind, creating a nasty cross-chop. Water temp is a freezing 50°, which is 6° colder than normal – that’s seriously unusual for this time of year. That’s not a session, that’s a survival mission. Saturday and Sunday are more of the same grim cross-shore stuff, with the swell dropping off to nothing. The whole first week is a write-off.
We do finally see a bit of a pulse down the line, but it’s still marginal. Monday 6th July pushes up to 7 ft from the NW (1280 energy) – that’s a fair bit of juice – but again, cross-onshore winds spoil it. The wave energy is moderate to strong, but the quality just isn’t there for a paddle. This setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than a traditional surf.
Tuesday 7th July sees the swell switch to a long-period 20-second SSW groundswell, but it’s tiny at 3 ft, and that long period will make it break too straight for a beach break. The wind remains a cross-shore problem. Honestly, there’s nothing clean to recommend here.
The second week is more of the same – persistent northerly cross winds and small, poor-quality swells. Wednesday 15th July has a 2 ft WNW groundswell with a very long 21-second period (692 energy), but the wave state is marginal. Thursday 16th July morning shows a bit more energy at 3 ft WNW (1014 energy), but again, the wind is cross and the consistency is shot. Nothing stands out as worth the drive.
So here’s the bottom line: there’s no standout session in this entire 16-day window. The break at Cape Mendocino is fairly consistent and exposed, but the conditions just aren’t cooperating. Don’t worry, it tends not to stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it, but for now, save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 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) | NW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 301 | 140 | 288 | 372 | 149 | 322 | 311 | 399 | 207 | 585 | 571 | 380 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 708 | 539 | 643 | 525 | 493 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:18PM1.42m | 1:47AM1.58m | 3:49PM1.47m | 2:35AM1.44m | 4:21PM1.54m | 3:33AM1.30m | 4:54PM1.62m | 4:47AM1.15m | 5:32PM1.70m | 6:21AM1.05m | 6:14PM1.80m | 8:06AM1.05m | 7:02PM1.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24AM-0.15m | 8:32PM0.92m | 8:59AM-0.06m | 9:27PM0.85m | 9:35AM0.06m | 10:28PM0.74m | 10:14AM0.21m | 11:35PM0.58m | 10:58AM0.39m | 00:42AM0.38m | 11:48AM0.58m | 1:46AM0.16m | 12:47PM0.74m | 2:45AM-0.05m | |||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 18 | NNW 8 | WNW 12 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | NW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 142 | 140 | 288 | 88 | 138 | 322 | 311 | 399 | 683 | 177 | 330 | 380 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 708 | 202 | 643 | 525 | 174 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | S 16 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SSW 17 | WNW 12 | SSW 20 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | NW 9 | SSW 16 | — | WNW 9 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 100 | 46 | 73 | 69 | 66 | 186 | 136 | 69 | 164 | 258 | 119 | 336 | 258 | 69 | 171 | 171 | 84 | 539 | — | 65 | 493 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | SSW 21 | SSW 15 | SSW 20 | WNW 12 | SSW 18 | WNW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 8 | SSW 15 | S 11 | S 20 | S 19 | — | S 18 | — |
| kJ | 43 | 42 | 45 | 78 | 149 | 85 | 221 | 49 | 207 | 260 | 260 | 261 | 11 | 5 | 191 | 9 | 68 | 188 | — | 160 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | N 6 | NW 10 | NNW 5 | N 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 |
| kJ | 301 | 251 | 268 | 372 | 416 | 264 | 287 | 682 | — | 585 | 571 | 40 | 295 | 228 | 51 | 303 | 42 | 48 | 170 | 181 | 81 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 289 | 80 | 40 | 149 | 51 | 40 | 80 | 51 | 40 | 149 | 437 | 51 | 151 | 437 | 51 | 316 | 436 | 54 | 334 | 436 | 41 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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