Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
12.7°C
1.9° 

Cape Mendocino surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Mon 31st Aug)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 3rd Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 18s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 18s

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 coming for the Cape Mendocino area.

Truth is, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, and we’ve got a real slow start. The first few days are pretty much a write-off, so don’t rush to wax up just yet. From Saturday, August 29th, right through to early September, the conditions just aren’t playing ball. The winds are cranking from the cross-shore and cross-onshore directions, and the wave quality is poor. You’re looking at a lot of moderate breezes and chop, with swell heights around 3 ft to 4 ft. The combined energy is moderate, ranging from 910 to 1241, but the wind is ruining it. It’s a long stretch of poor to marginal surf, so sit tight for about a week.

Now, the first real standout moment comes on Wednesday, September 9th. This is the one you want to circle on the calendar. We’ve got a solid 7 ft swell rolling in from the NW at 12 seconds, which is a nice long-period groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 1541. The real kicker is the wind: glassy, zero wind from the WNW. For a spot like Cape Mendocino, that’s as good as it gets. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 55°, which is a bit over a degree cooler than average. This is a setup for experienced surfers – at 7 ft, it’s going to be pushing it for anyone not comfortable in bigger, more powerful surf. The swell direction is NW, which is a good match for the optimum SW direction, so it should wrap in nicely. Thursday morning, the 10th, still has some decent 5 ft leftovers from the NW, but with a light cross-onshore, it won’t be as clean as Wednesday’s glass.

Later in the run, we’ve got another promising window. Saturday, September 12th morning is looking glassy with a light SSW wind, and a 3 ft SW swell. That’s a smaller, clean window for the mellow crew. The energy is moderate at 613. It’s not a big day, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be very user-friendly. Then on Sunday, September 13th, the afternoon goes glassy again with a tiny 2 ft SW swell, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. That’s a real long-range groundswell, so it’ll be clean but the energy is moderate at 402. It’s a small wave, but perfect for a longboard and a quiet session.

So, to wrap it up: skip the first week. The standout is Wednesday, September 9th, for the bigger, cleaner, more powerful surf. The smaller, glassy windows on the 12th and 13th are solid secondary options for a clean, more relaxed paddle.

Stay stoked, and keep an eye on the horizon.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
2
2
1
2
0
0
1
3
3
3
2
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSW
18
1.2
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
1.1
NW
10
1.1
NW
10
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
18
1
WNW
9
0.6
SSW
16
0.9
SW
19
1.6
NW
11
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
759
877
627
733
554
405
400
325
210
222
208
151
249
144
177
513
551
553
651
475
512
Wind (km/h)
25
NNW
25
N
25
N
25
NNW
30
NNW
20
N
10
WSW
5
WNW
5
ENE
10
S
10
SSW
10
SSE
25
S
20
S
20
SSE
15
SSE
0
NNW
15
NNE
15
NNW
15
NNW
5
ENE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross
glassy
High Tide
12:58PM1.65m
00:47AM1.65m
1:25PM1.71m
1:37AM1.53m
1:55PM1.76m
2:34AM1.40m
2:29PM1.80m
3:43AM1.27m
3:11PM1.82m
5:11AM1.18m
4:03PM1.83m
6:53AM1.19m
5:06PM1.83m
Low Tide
7:01PM0.47m
7:13AM0.23m
7:44PM0.37m
7:46AM0.37m
8:32PM0.27m
8:22AM0.55m
9:27PM0.20m
9:03AM0.72m
10:30PM0.14m
9:54AM0.88m
11:43PM0.09m
11:07AM1.00m
1:00AM0.02m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
6:46
6:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:53
7:52
7:51
7:50
7:47
7:45
7:45
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
15
16
14
15
16
13
16
16
15
16
17
15
17
18
16
15
16
16
16
16
14
Feels °C
11
12
10
11
11
9
15
15
16
15
15
16
13
14
13
13
16
15
14
13
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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