Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 326 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
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 the menu for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, we're looking at a pretty grim stretch of surf ahead. The next two weeks are dominated by a persistent, moderate north to north-northwest wind that just won't let up, and it's going to keep the ocean looking messy. The water temperature is sitting at 55°F with a negative anomaly of -3°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want a thick wetsuit.
The first real glimmer of anything decent doesn't show up until the very end of the forecast. We're looking at the morning of Friday, September 4th for the best call. Cape Mendocino is our only named break, exposed to the swell. That morning, we've got a solid 7ft swell sneaking in from the WNW with an 11-second period. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a strong 2093, which is a lot of power. The wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph, a gentle breeze, which will keep the surface fairly clean. It's a bigger swell, over 5ft, so it's pushing into intermediate territory, and the wind is only marginal, but it's the best looking window we've got. The swell direction is a touch off the perfect optimum, but it's the biggest push of energy in the whole run.
The rest of the period is a real bummer. From Thursday afternoon, August 20th, all the way through to Thursday, September 3rd, the scores are consistently low. We'll see long gaps of several days where the surf is just poor or marginal. The wind is nearly always a cross or cross-onshore breeze, and the swell heights are mostly under 3ft with a mix of short and long periods. The combined energy values are mostly in the moderate range (153 to 901), but the quality just isn't there. For example, Sunday afternoon, August 23rd has a 6ft swell from the NW, but with a short, weak 7-second period and a 16 mph cross-shore, it's just a choppy mess. The early part of September also looks poor, but that Friday morning is the one to pencil in. It's a long-range call, so keep your fingers crossed the forecast holds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | NW 7 | SW 18 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 223 | 236 | 156 | 139 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 94 | 231 | 301 | 199 | 269 | 199 | 232 | 326 | 214 | 161 | 203 | 201 | 183 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:31PM1.65m | 8:53AM1.20m | 6:30PM1.65m | 9:48AM1.27m | 7:30PM1.67m | 10:27AM1.34m | 8:25PM1.72m | 10:58AM1.38m | 9:14PM1.77m | 11:24AM1.42m | 9:58PM1.81m | 11:48AM1.47m | 10:40PM1.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:32AM0.24m | 1:04PM1.05m | 2:33AM0.18m | 2:14PM1.05m | 3:24AM0.11m | 3:09PM1.01m | 4:07AM0.05m | 3:54PM0.95m | 4:43AM0.01m | 4:33PM0.87m | 5:15AM-0.01m | 5:10PM0.79m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | 210 | 164 | 128 | 76 | 74 | 62 | 52 | 90 | 231 | 164 | 306 | 269 | 199 | 109 | 52 | 214 | 161 | 203 | 201 | 135 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 223 | 61 | 49 | 83 | 78 | 54 | 98 | 47 | 75 | 76 | 124 | 255 | 192 | 232 | 326 | 126 | 150 | 126 | 112 | 183 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | W 15 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 16 | W 12 |
| kJ | 58 | 236 | 156 | 139 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 94 | 29 | 30 | 199 | 106 | 153 | 146 | 126 | 110 | 125 | 49 | 126 | 103 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 67 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 88 | 114 | 217 | 301 | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | 33 | 14 | 20 | 35 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 134 | 40 | 334 | 438 | 0 | 73 | 437 | 51 | 244 | 54 | 21 | 211 | 86 | 0 | 152 | 86 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 42 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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