Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get straight to it. This forecast is a tough one for Cape Mendocino. You’re going to be waiting a long time for anything decent.

The first surf shows up on Friday morning, August 14th, but it’s a letdown. A 2ft SW swell with a long 15-second period, but the combined energy is only 536 – that’s weak. The water is at 54°F, which is 4°F colder than normal, so it’s going to feel cold. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NW at 6 mph, so it’s not clean. It’s marginal at best.

From there, it’s a rough patch. The rest of August 15th and 16th, and all through the next week, the conditions are poor. The swell stays small, mostly 2ft to 3ft, with moderate, messy cross-shore winds. The energy drops well below 500, and the forecasts call it “poor surf conditions” repeatedly. There’s a long stretch of nothing really worth paddling out for.

Then, around Monday, August 24th, we see a change. The swell jumps to 6ft from the NW, but the period is short – only 7 to 8 seconds. That’s a wind-driven, choppy swell, and with the moderate cross-shore winds, it’s going to be junky. The energy (736) is moderate, but it’s not clean. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than for paddle surfing.

The best chance comes near the end of the forecast. On Wednesday afternoon, August 26th, we get a 4ft SSE swell with a 16-second period, and combined energy of 1055 – that’s strong energy. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph, so it’s manageable. This is the best option on offer, but it’s still only a marginal call. Thursday morning, August 27th, has a similar 4ft S swell, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s a bit choppier.

So, the standout is Wednesday afternoon, August 26th, at Cape Mendocino. That 4ft SSE swell, with a long period and gentle cross-shore wind, is your best bet. The rest of the two weeks is a write-off. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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