Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NW swell with 805 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period. 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 9s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey everyone, Rusty here. Let's break down the Cape Mendocino forecast over the next couple of weeks.
Gotta be honest, it starts off pretty grim. From now through Thursday, August 14th, it’s a dead zone. The swell is tiny, the wind is messy, and most of the time it’s just lumpy and cross-shore. A real slow start for the coast.
Things finally show a pulse around Friday the 15th, with a moderate bump of energy from the SSW. The combined energy will be in that 600-700 range, which gives us some real push. We’re looking at waves around 3 to 4 feet, with a period of 16-17 seconds. That’s a nice, long-period groundswell, so the waves will have some shape and the lulls between sets will give you time to breathe. The morning of Saturday the 15th has a light cross-onshore breeze, so it’ll be a little textured, but by Sunday the 16th, the wind eases up to a lighter cross-shore. Sunday morning looks like the best window of the early run, with cleaner conditions and swell around 4 feet.
This spot is fairly consistent and faces the swell, so when it shows up, it works. The water is running cold for the season, around 53°F, which is a good 5°F below average. You’re going to want a thick wetsuit.
Looking into the second week, it settles down. The swell drops back to tiny 2 to 2 foot leftovers from the SW and SSW. The wind stays light to moderate and cross-shore, so there’s something for a longboard if you’re dedicated, but it’s not a highlight. The real window is that Saturday through Sunday around the 15th and 16th. That’s your best bet.
Keep an eye on it, the ocean can surprise you.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 196 | 167 | 120 | 163 | 134 | 95 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 245 | 152 | 212 | 280 | 576 | 499 | 402 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:39PM2.04m | 11:10AM1.45m | 9:39PM2.09m | 11:49AM1.53m | 10:34PM2.09m | 12:26PM1.60m | 11:26PM2.05m | 1:02PM1.66m | 00:17AM1.94m | 1:36PM1.71m | 1:08AM1.78m | 2:09PM1.74m | 2:00AM1.60m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:55PM0.97m | 4:20AM-0.29m | 3:57PM0.89m | 5:08AM-0.34m | 4:52PM0.79m | 5:51AM-0.32m | 5:45PM0.68m | 6:32AM-0.24m | 6:36PM0.58m | 7:11AM-0.11m | 7:28PM0.49m | 7:49AM0.06m | 8:19PM0.43m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 196 | 167 | 120 | 163 | 90 | 70 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 423 | 322 | 242 | 210 | 178 | 156 | 90 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 11 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 14 | 72 | 67 | 98 | 134 | 95 | 113 | 53 | 34 | 68 | 70 | 9 | 28 | 245 | 152 | 140 | 280 | 576 | 499 | 402 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SW 16 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | W 12 | WNW 13 | NW 16 | NW 16 | S 11 | WNW 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 61 | 17 | 33 | 32 | 12 | 32 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 25 | 149 | 212 | 186 | 37 | 35 | 154 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 670 | 1194 | 953 | 837 | 1266 | 931 | 770 | 979 | 778 | 753 | 1342 | 902 | 617 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 41 | 649 | 54 | 41 | 219 | 100 | 41 | 219 | 80 | 41 | 51 | 151 | 51 | 211 | 151 | 40 | 151 | 114 | 40 |
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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