Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with 651 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 1.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break down this forecast in feet and Fahrenheit, because that's how we measure things on a good day.
Let's be straight: the next couple of weeks are looking rough. There's a whole lot of nothing good coming our way. The water is feeling mighty cold at 51°, which is nearly 5° below the average for this time of year. You'll want your thickest rubber.
We're looking at a long stretch of poor surf. From now, there's a gap with nothing worth mentioning until maybe the morning of Monday, July 15th, and even that's a stretch. The whole time, we're stuck with cross-shore winds, mostly out of the North and NNW, that are going to keep everything bumpy and ugly.
The only thing that might get your attention is the morning of Wednesday, July 16th. There's a tiny 3ft groundswell from the WNW, with a very long 19-second period. That gives it some energy (moderate at 859), but a strong 30 km/h cross-shore wind is going to chop it all up. It'll be frustrating.
Then, for the brave (or crazy) among you, the Saturday of July 19th brings a serious size jump. Cape Mendocino gets a NW swell hitting 8ft on Saturday morning and 8ft on Saturday afternoon. The energy is strong, hitting 1576 and 1562. That's big, expert-only stuff. The period is short at 9 seconds, so it's windswell, and with fresh cross-shore winds, it's going to be a messy, power-heavy onslaught. Not clean, just big and ugly.
There are no clear standouts here. It's a grim forecast. That big swell on the 19th is going to be a battle against the wind. Honestly, if you've got a kite, this might look alright, but for a paddle, you're better off waiting for a better week.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 18 | 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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 221 | 399 | 207 | 445 | 434 | 336 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 608 | 539 | 545 | 441 | 377 | 377 | 367 | 339 | 268 | 332 | 275 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 9:33AM1.14m | 7:54PM1.98m | 10:39AM1.25m | 8:48PM2.06m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:51PM0.86m | 3:40AM-0.25m | 2:56PM0.92m | 4:33AM-0.40m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SSW 18 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 473 | 399 | 541 | 445 | 330 | 336 | 485 | 643 | 651 | 491 | 608 | 539 | 545 | 441 | 377 | 377 | 367 | 93 | 268 | 268 | 251 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | S 20 | NW 9 | — | S 18 | WNW 8 | — | — | SSW 15 | NW 10 | W 19 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 136 | 154 | 167 | 161 | 171 | 261 | 258 | 70 | 125 | 171 | 68 | 88 | — | 160 | 99 | — | — | 339 | 50 | 7 | 275 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 8 | SW 15 | S 11 | — | S 19 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | S 20 | W 16 | S 19 |
| kJ | 221 | 58 | 207 | 258 | 260 | 28 | 11 | 5 | 220 | 9 | — | 118 | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | 8 | 5 | 29 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 8 | — | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | N 7 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | — | 485 | — | — | 434 | 328 | 279 | 215 | 100 | 295 | 268 | 302 | 557 | 649 | 769 | 649 | 464 | 117 | 210 | 332 | 45 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 152 | 114 | 40 | 151 | 437 | 51 | 151 | 437 | 40 | 262 | 437 | 54 | 334 | 436 | 40 | 262 | 437 | 54 | 334 | 54 | 51 |
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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