Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the outlook is pretty grim to start. We've got a stretch from Thursday, August 27th, all the way through to the end of the month with next to nothing. The waves are there, but the wind is a constant cross-shore mess, blowing at 12 to 18 mph, and the combined energy is weak to moderate, topping out around 799. It's all "poor surf conditions" on the report for that whole period, so save your energy.

There’s a bit of a shift come the first of September. Things are still marginal, but the energy starts building. Tuesday morning the 1st sees a drop in wind, but the swell is small. Wednesday the 2nd morning shows a bit more promise with a 2ft SSW swell at a very long 18 seconds. The groundswell period is significant, meaning cleaner, more powerful lines, but it's small and the cross-shore wind is still a factor.

The real glimmer in this forecast is the period around the 4th and 5th of September. Saturday the 5th is the standout. The wind backs off to a light 6 mph from the NNW, going cross-on. That's not perfect, but it’s a big improvement. We get a 4ft SSW swell with a period of 16 seconds. The combined energy hits 1159, which is solidly moderate. The wave comment is "marginal" but the score is the highest we see.

Cape Mendocino (Cape-Mendocino) is your best bet here. It's an exposed spot that loves a SSW swell, and with that long period, it'll wrap in and hit the reef and points nicely. The light wind will keep the surface clean, and the long period means longer waits between sets but better shape. It’s fairly consistent, so there will be waves to be had. That Saturday morning window is the one to circle, just keep in mind that crowds are sometimes an issue here.

The following week keeps things marginal. Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th still have that 4ft to 4ft SSW swell, but the wind picks up a bit. By Wednesday the 9th, we see a brief window of offshore wind from the WSW at just 3 mph with a 4ft SW swell at 18 seconds, and the energy jumps to 1156. That is a promising setup for the region. The long period point break potential is high, but it's a 16-day call, so keep your expectations in check.

Overall, it’s a slow start. The first week is a write-off. The second week offers a few windows, with Saturday the 5th and Wednesday the 9th morning being the best bets for a decent session. It’s not a classic run of swell, but there’s enough there to get a few if you’re patient.

Stay salty.
- Rusty

Read more