
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 724 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 11PM (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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 11PM. 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 1.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy 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+) | 11PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the Cape Mendocino stretch. We’ve got a pretty quiet run ahead, so don’t get your hopes up for anything firing just yet.
First off, the water is sitting at 53°F, which is a solid 5°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s a noticeable chill, so you’ll want the thickest wetsuit you’ve got – it’s much colder than normal out there.
The first few days are a write-off. Sunday the 9th through to Thursday the 13th are all “poor surf conditions” with messy cross-shore winds and lumpy, choppy sea. The swell is tiny, around 1ft to 2ft, and the wind is howling from the NNW at 18 mph. Don’t even bother.
We start to see a shift on Friday the 14th. The morning session at Cape Mendocino looks alright – glassy conditions with a light SW wind, and a clean 2ft SSW groundswell. The energy is moderate (277), and the period is a solid 15 seconds, so there’s some shape there. It’s not big, but it’s clean. That’s your first real window.
Then things get a bit interesting. Saturday the 15th brings a bit more size, but the wind is cross-on, so it’s messy. However, Sunday the 16th afternoon has a standout moment: glassy conditions, a 3ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 651. That’s the best on offer in the whole forecast – clean, punchy, and with that long-period groundswell for shape. It’s a small window, but it’s the one.
After that, we have a few more marginal days. Monday the 17th is cross-shore and lumpy. Tuesday the 18th afternoon goes glassy again with a 3ft SSW swell – another clean session, but smaller. Then Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th are back to poor conditions. The second week dries up fast, with mostly small, cross-shore junk.
Friday the 21st through to Sunday the 23rd are all poor or marginal, with tiny 1ft to 2ft swells and cross-shore winds. The highlight in the second week is Monday the 24th morning – glassy, 2ft SW swell with a 18-second period. It’s small, but it’ll be clean. That’s the only other real option.
So, the best two windows: Sunday the 16th afternoon is your standout – glassy, solid 3ft, long-period groundswell. And for a quieter, cleaner session, Friday the 14th morning or Monday the 24th morning are your best bets. Don’t expect much else. The stretch from the 9th to the 13th is a total dead zone, and the second week is mostly a dud.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Wed morning, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | 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 | NW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
263 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 134 | 95 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 206 | 201 | 245 | 150 | 291 | 280 | 576 | 505 | 627 | |
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 | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:27AM1.35m | 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 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 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 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | NNW 8 | SW 16 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | SSW 16 |
263 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 59 | 70 | 115 | 209 | 207 | 137 | 173 | 809 | 201 | 412 | 356 | 291 | 164 | 126 | 93 | 627 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | NNW 7 |
37 | 28 | 72 | 67 | 98 | 134 | 95 | 113 | 53 | 57 | 28 | 70 | 206 | 28 | 245 | 150 | 140 | 280 | 576 | 505 | 62 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | SSW 11 | W 15 | S 10 | SW 16 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | W 15 | S 12 | NW 16 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | W 10 | W 10 |
28 | 26 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 17 | 33 | 33 | 4 | 25 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 86 | 127 | 212 | 186 | 46 | 53 | 68 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | — | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
654 | 687 | 1274 | 1020 | 931 | 1387 | 1044 | 770 | 1027 | 909 | 953 | 1302 | — | 572 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 294 | 780 | 41 | 244 | 80 | 41 | 289 | 54 | 51 | 219 | 80 | 52 | 151 | 191 | 45 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 191 | 75 | 0 |
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.











