Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) 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 3.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me lay it out for you plain. Cape Mendocino is looking at a long stretch of terrible, from now until the middle of August. There’s nothing to recommend for more than a week. Completely dead.
The only day worth talking about is Tuesday, August 18th. Cape Mendocino will turn glassy with no wind in the morning, bringing in a small 0.8m SSW swell. The period is 14 seconds, so there’ll be a few clean lines. The surface will be like a mirror. The water is 11°, which is a whopping 3° colder than normal – bone-chilling. The wave energy is weak (301), but after this drought it’s a sight for sore eyes. The afternoon stays glassy with a 0.9m SSW swell at 15 seconds, a touch more guts (375). There are no crowds because nobody’s expecting a thing.
That’s the one and only highlight. After the 20th, it’s all downhill into messy onshore junk. There’s a bigger spike on the 25th with a 2.2m NW windswell, but it’s short-period, cross-shore wind, and the energy reading is 1201 from the chaos. That’s a kite-foiling day, not a surfing one.
If you’re keen, pencil in the 18th. Otherwise, give it a miss.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Tue night, light winds from the NNW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | NW 8 | SW 16 | NW 7 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 102 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 407 | 245 | 254 | 212 | 280 | 576 | 505 | 493 | 612 | 506 | 431 | 437 | 330 | 330 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:49AM1.53m | 10:34PM2.09m | 12:26PM1.60m | 11:26PM2.05m | 1:02PM1.66m | 00:17AM1.94m | 1:36PM1.71m | 1:08AM1.78m | 2:09PM1.74m | 2:00AM1.60m | 2:43PM1.75m | 2:58AM1.41m | 3:18PM1.74m | 4:06AM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:52PM0.79m | 5:51AM-0.32m | 5:45PM0.68m | 6:32AM-0.24m | 6:36PM0.58m | 7:11AM-0.11m | 7:28PM0.49m | 7:49AM0.06m | 8:19PM0.43m | 8:26AM0.26m | 9:14PM0.38m | 9:04AM0.47m | 10:12PM0.35m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 102 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 194 | 254 | 140 | 156 | 576 | 505 | 493 | 612 | 506 | 431 | 437 | 330 | 330 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 11 | W 10 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 11 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 95 | 113 | 53 | 34 | 68 | 70 | 29 | 29 | 245 | 232 | 212 | 280 | 37 | 54 | 73 | 41 | 31 | 42 | 40 | 57 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 13 | NW 16 | S 11 | S 11 | WNW 11 | SSW 20 | W 11 | SW 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | NNW 7 | NW 6 | WNW 9 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 17 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 149 | 20 | 214 | 29 | 31 | 51 | 49 | 45 | 17 | 10 | 26 | 24 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | N 8 | — | NW 7 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 687 | 713 | 829 | 703 | 491 | 1064 | 634 | 407 | 120 | — | 223 | — | 127 | 113 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 219 | 437 | 54 | 219 | 294 | 54 | 151 | 473 | 40 | 211 | 294 | 51 | 211 | 211 | 0 | 152 | 54 | 0 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
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.
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