Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.5° C
2.9° 

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 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, NW swell with 688 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sat 18th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Best Surf 8PM (Sat 18th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.


Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s size up what’s happening at Cape Mendocino for the next couple of weeks.

First thing you’ll notice is the water is running way colder than usual. We’re talking about a water temp of 51°, which is 5° colder than the long-term average for this time of year. That’s a solid reminder to zip up that steamer before you paddle out.

Right now, through Sunday the 12th and into Monday the 13th, it’s a miss. We’ve got some swell in the water—around 6ft to 5ft from the NW—but it’s being hammered by a cross-shore wind at 16 mph. The surf is just a mess of cross-chop. Combined swell energy is moderate at 863, but the quality is zero.

Monday afternoon and Tuesday the 14th see a weird shift. The swell drops right off to 2ft, but we get a 13-second period from the SSW, and then a tiny 1ft pulse with an 18-second period from the SW. Those are long-period groundswells, which hints at some energy deep down, but at these tiny heights it’s just not going to break properly for a paddle surfer. The energy is weak (239 and 277). Still, cross winds are ruining any potential.

Wednesday the 15th through Friday the 17th is a flat, messy stretch of nothing. The swell stays below 3ft with periods all over the place, and we have a fresh cross-shore breeze at 19-22 mph kicking up a lumpy surface. The combined energy pushes up to moderate levels (738 on Friday morning), but with those winds, it’s a total no-go for a clean wave.

Now, there’s a little flash of hope on Saturday, July 18th. It’s not a classic, but it’s your best window in this whole run. The morning is marginal with a 3ft WNW swell and a cross wind still, but by afternoon the wind drops to a whisper—just 3 mph from the SSW, light cross-shore. The swell drops a touch to 3ft from the SW with a sweet 18-second period. Combined energy climbs to a solid 736. That light wind means the surface could clean right up. For a dedicated soul on a log or a longboard, that afternoon session might just have a few glassy, lined-up waves. Don’t go expecting barrels; it’s small and clean.

After that, from Sunday the 19th all the way through to Monday the 27th of July, it’s grim reading. The swell stays between 2ft and 4ft, but the cross-shore wind just won’t quit. It’s blowing 12 to 22 mph from the north and northwest for days on end. The combined energy gets moderate to strong (up to 816 on the 25th), but the wind state is consistently “moderate cross-shore” or “fresh cross-shore” with lumpy chop. There are a couple of marginal days (like the 20th and 24th), but with onshore or cross-onshore light winds and tiny swell, it’s more of a hopeful check than a proper session.

Honestly, this is a pretty blank run for Cape Mendocino. The north winds just have a stranglehold on the place for the entire second week. Saturday afternoon the 18th is the one standout, and even then, it’s a low-stakes, small-wave clean-up. Beyond that, you’re better off finding a different hobby for a fortnight. If the wind ever swings offshore, those long-period groundswells in the middle of the run could turn it on, but as it stands, the chop and the cold water are winning.

Stay warm, and don't hold your breath.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Fri night).

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
NW
10
1.9
NW
9
1.6
NW
9
1.6
NW
8
0.6
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.5
W
14
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.9
WNW
10
0.5
WNW
20
0.6
WNW
19
0.6
WNW
19
0.9
WNW
18
0.9
WNW
17
0.9
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
0.8
SW
18
1.7
NW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
614
550
380
330
118
184
106
113
194
194
160
218
286
280
438
433
390
376
366
379
439
Wind (km/h)
25
N
25
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
30
NNW
30
N
30
NNW
35
NNW
30
N
35
N
30
NNW
25
NNW
10
NNW
20
SSW
5
SSW
10
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
11:31AM1.36m
9:44PM2.12m
12:18PM1.44m
10:38PM2.15m
1:01PM1.50m
11:31PM2.12m
1:42PM1.56m
00:24AM2.04m
2:22PM1.61m
1:16AM1.89m
3:01PM1.66m
2:11AM1.69m
3:40PM1.69m
3:10AM1.48m
Low Tide
3:57PM0.93m
5:23AM-0.49m
4:56PM0.90m
6:11AM-0.52m
5:52PM0.84m
6:56AM-0.48m
6:48PM0.78m
7:41AM-0.39m
7:46PM0.71m
8:23AM-0.23m
8:45PM0.65m
9:05AM-0.04m
9:49PM0.58m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:47
8:46
8:46
8:45
8:45
8:45
8:44
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
14
16
16
14
15
16
13
14
15
13
13
14
13
16
16
14
14
15
13
Feels °C
10
11
9
12
12
10
10
11
8
9
10
8
7
8
8
11
12
10
10
15
12
  • 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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