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Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast
/ CAL – Humboldt (25 breaks) / California (404 breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surfForecast / CAL – Humboldt / USA
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Tuesday 12 May 2026 PDTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Cape Mendocino surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
11.1° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)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 (May 16) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) 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 3.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (May 18) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 16th May) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 16th May) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 17th May) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 12 | Wednesday 13 | Thursday 14 | Friday 15 | Saturday 16 | Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | NW 13 | NW 12 | WNW 12 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 15 | |
356 | 303 | 454 | 942 | 928 | 757 | 551 | 480 | 266 | 266 | 428 | 732 | 876 | 972 | 2789 | 1977 | 698 | 906 | 614 | 200 | 302 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | |
High Tide | 8:13AM1.23m | 8:44PM1.62m | 9:24AM1.25m | 9:16PM1.75m | 10:29AM1.30m | 9:50PM1.86m | 11:30AM1.34m | 10:27PM1.96m | 12:28PM1.37m | 11:09PM2.01m | 1:26PM1.39m | 11:54PM2.02m | 2:23PM1.39m | 00:44AM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:25PM0.28m | 3:33AM0.19m | 3:09PM0.39m | 4:17AM-0.06m | 3:53PM0.50m | 5:01AM-0.30m | 4:38PM0.61m | 5:46AM-0.47m | 5:24PM0.71m | 6:34AM-0.58m | 6:12PM0.79m | 7:23AM-0.61m | 7:05PM0.85m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:29 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 15 |
 kJ | 356 | 303 | 454 | 942 | 928 | 757 | 551 | 480 | 266 | 266 | 428 | 732 | 876 | 972 | 165 | 118 | 698 | 60 | 58 | 200 | 302 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 15 | S 20 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 191 | 242 | 242 | 136 | 166 | 102 | 70 | 298 | 266 | 232 | 252 | 108 | 92 | 225 | 7 | 13 | 111 | 31 | 62 | 117 | 75 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 14 | W 15 | SSW 19 | S 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | S 12 | NW 18 | WNW 9 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | — | S 20 | SW 18 | S 18 | SW 18 | S 16 | S 16 |
| kJ | 25 | 16 | 38 | 37 | 13 | 104 | 97 | 11 | 81 | 65 | 25 | 146 | 56 | 15 | — | 7 | 12 | 25 | 49 | 46 | 46 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 13 | NW 12 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 46 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 47 | 72 | 119 | 204 | 342 | 303 | 195 | 219 | 2789 | 1977 | 428 | 906 | 614 | 333 | 569 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 294 | 74 | 54 | 152 | 151 | 54 | 262 | 436 | 54 | 437 | 437 | 114 | 436 | 780 | 151 | 436 | 438 | 54 | 316 | 436 | 54 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cape Mendocino surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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