Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
13.2°C
1.5° 

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 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s 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★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period with SW 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 17s period. 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 1.7m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Tue 25th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 17s
Best Surf 5AM (Mon 31st Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 15s
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 take a look at what’s shaping up for Cape Mendocino. It’s a bit of a slow patch to kick things off, with a lot of marginal conditions and cross-shores that just won’t let up. The real standout looks like it’s a way off, so patience is the name of the game.

The first few days are a tough watch. From Tuesday the 25th through the end of the month, we’ve got small swell, mostly around 2ft to 3ft from the SW with a decent 16-second period, but the wind is a problem. It’s blowing cross or cross-on, and the wave energy is weak to moderate (443 to 466). It’s just not worth paddling out for. Wednesday and Thursday are even worse, with the same small swell and moderate cross-shore winds messing up any chance of a clean wave. The energy drops further, too (283 to 354).

Friday the 28th sees a slight bump in swell height to 3ft, still from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy picks up a bit (704), but it’s still marginal and cross-shore. That pattern hangs around through the weekend and into early next week. Saturday the 30th offers a little more size—4ft to 4ft from the SSW with an 18-second period, moderate energy (1031), but again, the wind is cross, and it’s just not clean. We’re stuck in a rut of marginal surf and poor conditions.

Then, on Monday the 7th of September, things start to look a little more hopeful. The morning has 3ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, with a light breeze and slight cross-shore chop. Not great, but not terrible. The real glimmer comes on Tuesday the 8th of September. The morning is still small, but look at the afternoon: the wind goes glassy, and we’ve got 2ft SSW swell with a 13-second period. The energy is low (290), but glassy conditions are a major positive. It’s the first time we’ve seen clean surf, and while it’s small, it’s the best on offer in the whole outlook. That’s the one to circle if you’re desperate for a paddle.

Wednesday the 9th of September goes back to marginal with a cross-shore, so that Tuesday afternoon window is the real standout.

Water temperature here is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report.

So, there you have it. A long flat spell, then a tiny window of glassy conditions on the 8th. Keep your eyes on the forecast, because that could be the only clean shot we get.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
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
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
1
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SW
17
0.7
SSW
19
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
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
326
214
206
203
201
183
135
171
164
339
281
315
759
877
627
733
546
405
400
325
207
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
15
NNW
15
NNE
20
NNW
20
N
15
NNE
25
N
25
N
15
NNE
20
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNW
25
NNW
25
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:24AM1.42m
9:58PM1.81m
11:48AM1.47m
10:40PM1.82m
12:11PM1.52m
11:21PM1.80m
12:34PM1.58m
00:03AM1.74m
12:58PM1.65m
00:47AM1.65m
1:25PM1.71m
1:37AM1.53m
1:55PM1.76m
2:34AM1.40m
Low Tide
4:33PM0.87m
5:15AM-0.01m
5:10PM0.79m
5:45AM-0.01m
5:45PM0.69m
6:14AM0.03m
6:22PM0.59m
6:43AM0.11m
7:01PM0.47m
7:13AM0.23m
7:44PM0.37m
7:46AM0.37m
8:32PM0.27m
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
7:59
7:57
7:55
7:53
7:52
7:51
 mm
Temp °C
17
17
15
19
20
17
17
18
14
15
16
14
15
15
13
15
15
13
15
16
13
Feels °C
16
15
13
16
17
15
14
14
10
11
12
11
11
10
10
11
11
10
12
12
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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