
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, NW swell with 666 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) 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 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for the Cape Mendocino area is a tough one. We’ve got a long stretch of what I’d call “leave the board in the car” weather, with persistent cross-shore winds and messy conditions. Don’t get your hopes up too early.
We kick things off with a bit of a wait. The first surf on offer is Friday, July 10th, but it's not worth paddling out. We’re looking at a 3ft SSW swell with a period of 15 seconds – that long period groundswell has some energy (671 on the energy scale), but with a cross-shore wind of 15 mph from the NNW, it’s going to be choppy and bumpy. The water is a chilly 51°, which is 5° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a lot colder than usual. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions,” and that’s the story for the next week and a half. Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday – it’s the same sad song: more cross-shore, more chop, and swell heights up to 6ft on Sunday but with short period (8-10 seconds) meaning weak, crumbly waves. The combined energy tops out around 843 Sunday morning but it’s still messy.
We go through the entire week following with the same pattern. Cross-shore winds every day, mostly from the N or NNW at 15 to 20 mph, keeping the surface lumpy. Swells drop down to tiny 1ft to 2ft through the middle of the week, with periods all over the place but still poor conditions. This is a real dry spell.
Now, there is a standout that peeks its head up a week from now – Friday, July 17th, in the morning. We get a pulse of swell from the NW at 7ft, period around 8 seconds, and the energy jumps way up to 1469 – that’s strong. The wind is a lighter cross-onshore from the NW at only 9 mph, which is the gentlest breeze we’ve seen. This is the best chance in the whole outlook, but only for experts. At 7ft with a short period, it’s going to be powerful and dumping hard – definitely not for beginners. The wind is still cross-onshore though, so don’t expect glassy perfection. The wave comment rates it as “marginal surf forecast” but relative to everything else, this is the one to circle. The rest of that day, and the following days, it’s right back to the same old cross-shore chop with smaller swells.
So here’s the bottom line: you’ve got a big gap of poor to no surf from now until July 17th. That Friday morning is your only real shot at something worth a look, and even then it’s expert-only and not perfect. For the rest, it’s a waiting game. With how consistent the wind is being, it’s one of those blank runs that just happens around here sometimes. Forecasts can change, but for now, don’t rush out.
Stay patient.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | WNW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 20 | WNW 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | WNW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
372 | 367 | 334 | 268 | 272 | 380 | 625 | 550 | 344 | 378 | 313 | 139 | 69 | 113 | 194 | 194 | 160 | 218 | 283 | 277 | 438 | |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:33AM1.14m | 7:54PM1.98m | 10:39AM1.25m | 8:48PM2.06m | 11:31AM1.36m | 9:44PM2.12m | 12:18PM1.44m | 10:38PM2.15m | 1:01PM1.50m | 11:31PM2.12m | 1:42PM1.56m | 00:24AM2.04m | 2:22PM1.61m | 1:16AM1.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:51PM0.86m | 3:40AM-0.25m | 2:56PM0.92m | 4:33AM-0.40m | 3:57PM0.93m | 5:23AM-0.49m | 4:56PM0.90m | 6:11AM-0.52m | 5:52PM0.84m | 6:56AM-0.48m | 6:48PM0.78m | 7:41AM-0.39m | 7:46PM0.71m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | |
— | 8:49 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 14 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 20 | WNW 20 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | WNW 18 |
372 | 367 | 334 | 134 | 181 | 380 | 168 | 170 | 229 | 121 | 116 | 139 | 69 | 104 | 194 | 194 | 160 | 218 | 283 | 277 | 438 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 18 | S 18 | WNW 17 | S 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 13 | WNW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
— | 94 | 109 | 268 | 272 | 249 | 25 | 55 | 54 | 65 | 76 | 133 | 67 | 62 | 63 | 89 | 57 | 161 | 159 | 159 | 145 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | S 20 | W 19 | S 19 | W 18 | W 15 | S 18 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | S 13 | SW 18 | WNW 13 | WNW 20 | SW 17 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | W 12 | S 12 |
— | 11 | 25 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 70 | 51 | 113 | 58 | 80 | 102 | 53 | 50 | 11 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | N 4 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 |
299 | 58 | 30 | 20 | 48 | 30 | 625 | 550 | 344 | 378 | 313 | 217 | 211 | 236 | 218 | 372 | 504 | 704 | 966 | 771 | 587 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 151 | 437 | 40 | 262 | 437 | 80 | 294 | 262 | 40 | 151 | 54 | 51 | 151 | 54 | 40 | 151 | 436 | 40 | 151 | 437 | 54 |
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.










