
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 19s period, SSW swell with 1,216 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Mendocino this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 1.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get right into it for Cape Mendocino.
Right off the bat, we’ve got some rideable swell rolling in, but it’s a short-lived window. The water is sitting at 56°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
The best bet in this whole 16-day stretch is Sunday, July 26th. We’ve got a solid 4ft of groundswell out of the southwest, with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s proper energy pushing in, with the combined swell energy hitting a strong 1285. That long period means the waves will have shape and power, especially at a spot like Cape Mendocino, which is exposed to that southwest direction. The wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 12 mph, so it’s not glassy, but it’s manageable. This is the standout window, and it’s the only one that’s really worth paddling out for.
Monday, July 27th, holds similar size at 4ft, with a slightly shorter but still long 18-second period from the SSW. The energy is still there, with values around 1067 to 1278. Again, cross-shore winds in the 12 to 15 mph range keep it from being perfect, but it’s still surfable.
After that, it’s a slow fade. Tuesday through Thursday see the swell dropping from 4ft down to 3ft. The period drops into the 14 to 16-second range, and the winds stay cross-shore and start picking up to 15 to 18 mph. The energy levels drop from moderate to weak, and the model is calling it marginal at best.
Then we hit a real dry spell. From Friday, July 31st, all the way through to Monday, August 10th, the swell is tiny—under 2ft—with weak energy (under 300) and persistent cross-shore winds. The model is calling these conditions poor, and honestly, there’s nothing here for a surfer. That’s a gap of about 11 days with no worthwhile surf on offer. For a spot like this, that kind of blank run is a bit of a bummer, but it happens.
The very end of the forecast, on August 7th and 8th, there’s a tiny blip of energy with a 2ft to 2ft swell and a long period of 18 to 21 seconds, but the energy is still weak (under 317). It’s a tease, but not enough to get excited about.
So, bottom line: if you’ve got a board, be on it Sunday the 26th through Monday the 27th. That’s your window. After that, you’re probably better off waxing your board and waiting for the next proper pulse.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1100 | 863 | 719 | 845 | 1104 | 837 | 679 | 1081 | 911 | 635 | 539 | 436 | 377 | 306 | 171 | 214 | 186 | 141 | 163 | 253 | 219 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:38AM1.33m | 9:34PM1.81m | 12:10PM1.37m | 10:16PM1.84m | 12:39PM1.39m | 10:55PM1.85m | 1:05PM1.42m | 11:34PM1.83m | 1:30PM1.46m | 00:13AM1.79m | 1:56PM1.51m | 00:53AM1.70m | 2:22PM1.56m | 1:37AM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:10PM1.01m | 5:16AM-0.10m | 4:52PM0.98m | 5:49AM-0.13m | 5:29PM0.95m | 6:20AM-0.14m | 6:06PM0.90m | 6:50AM-0.13m | 6:43PM0.85m | 7:20AM-0.09m | 7:23PM0.78m | 7:50AM-0.01m | 8:07PM0.70m | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
1100 | 863 | 719 | 845 | 1104 | 837 | 679 | 1081 | 911 | 635 | 539 | 166 | 377 | 306 | 67 | 214 | 186 | 91 | 163 | 253 | 219 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SSW 12 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 12 | NW 9 | S 18 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSW 14 | SW 14 |
84 | 56 | 163 | 119 | 125 | 117 | 97 | 55 | 194 | 98 | 307 | 436 | 183 | 181 | 159 | 142 | 167 | 141 | 131 | 136 | 99 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | NW 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 21 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | S 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SW 15 | S 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | S 16 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
101 | 30 | 180 | 98 | 40 | 169 | 144 | 3 | 53 | 31 | 22 | 287 | 21 | 41 | 171 | 67 | 26 | 136 | 121 | 15 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | N 5 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 |
— | 75 | — | 5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 193 | 281 | 379 | 336 | 38 | 279 | 250 | 51 | 119 | 111 | 60 | 159 | 209 | 679 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 151 | 51 | 151 | 151 | 51 | 334 | 436 | 68 | 151 | 437 | 54 | 151 | 436 | 54 | 151 | 437 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 68 |
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.










