
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,219 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with NW 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 03) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 17s 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Cape Mendocino zone over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you: it’s a pretty grim stretch of water for a paddle surfer. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead, so don’t bother waxing up just yet.
We start off on Tuesday, July 28th. There’s actually some swell in the water – 4ft of SSW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy is pumping at 1139 (moderate). The water is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much bang on average for the time of year. The problem is the wind. It’s a cross-shore from the north at 16 mph, putting a nasty cross-chop on things. The call is marginal at best, and with that wind, you’re fighting a battle. That long period, groundswell energy is begging for a point or reef, but Cape Mendocino is an exposed beach setup, and that long period will make it break straight and close out fast. Not the one.
Wednesday the 29th through to the end of the first week, the swell drops off and the wind stays fresh and cross. We’re looking at 3ft to 2ft SSE to SSW swells. The energy is still hanging around in the moderate range (954 down to 516), but it’s largely a messy, lumpy cross-chop. The surf reports are all “poor” or “marginal,” and I’m not seeing a single window of clean conditions. Saturday August 1st, the swell jumps up a bit to 6ft from the NNW, but the period is a shocking 6 seconds – that’s windswell junk, and the wind is blowing 22 mph. That’s a write-off, and honestly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling, given the strong cross-shore wind and short-period, lumpy surf.
Then we hit a real dead zone. From Sunday August 2nd all the way through to Tuesday August 12th, the swell drops to barely a ripple – 1ft to 2ft most days. The energy levels are weak, sliding from 165 down to 109 (weak). The wind is still cross or cross-on, and the reports are all “poor surf conditions.” There’s a brief flicker of interest on Wednesday August 5th, with a 6ft NW swell, but it’s only 8 seconds and the wind is cross. It’s still a “marginal” call.
So, the truth is, there’s really no standout, no day to get excited about. The only session that even comes close to being worth a look is that Tuesday July 28th morning, but that cross-chop and the 16 mph wind just kill it. It’s a long blank run of over a week with no real surf. For this area, a run like this happens. It’s not unusual, but it’s a bummer. The forecasts can always change, but right now, I’d leave the board in the car and go for a hike.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSE 14 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1081 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 436 | 377 | 306 | 171 | 169 | 239 | 189 | 170 | 261 | 99 | 75 | 70 | 49 | 44 | 43 | 41 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:55PM1.85m | 1:05PM1.42m | 11:34PM1.83m | 1:30PM1.46m | 00:13AM1.79m | 1:56PM1.51m | 00:53AM1.70m | 2:22PM1.56m | 1:37AM1.58m | 2:50PM1.63m | 2:28AM1.44m | 3:22PM1.69m | 3:30AM1.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:29PM0.95m | 6:20AM-0.14m | 6:06PM0.90m | 6:50AM-0.13m | 6:43PM0.85m | 7:20AM-0.09m | 7:23PM0.78m | 7:50AM-0.01m | 8:07PM0.70m | 8:22AM0.12m | 8:57PM0.60m | 8:56AM0.27m | 9:54PM0.50m | |||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 | NNW 9 |
1081 | 789 | 635 | 539 | 436 | 377 | 306 | 159 | 169 | 239 | 150 | 148 | 171 | 73 | 75 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 41 | 1093 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 15 | S 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 |
55 | 53 | 98 | 307 | 287 | 183 | 246 | 171 | 155 | 158 | 189 | 134 | 136 | 99 | 51 | 70 | 44 | 24 | 43 | 41 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 20 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | S 15 | — | SSW 14 | S 12 | SW 20 | S 14 | S 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 12 | SW 12 |
3 | 119 | 31 | 22 | 24 | 41 | 19 | 99 | 113 | — | 183 | 80 | 15 | 34 | 21 | 49 | 49 | 44 | 25 | 38 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | — |
174 | 215 | 190 | 231 | 319 | 176 | 148 | 87 | 110 | 119 | 42 | 170 | 261 | 881 | 996 | 1148 | 1781 | 1101 | 1126 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 437 | 80 | 151 | 436 | 54 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 316 | 436 | 68 | 262 | 753 | 54 | 219 | 51 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










