Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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