Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 11 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
10.5° C
2.9° 

Cape Mendocino surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,011 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the menu for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a rough start. The first ten days or so are a write-off. We’ve got a solid run of poor surf conditions with moderate to fresh cross-shore winds messing up any chance of clean waves. The swell is there, but it’s not doing us any favors with that wind. You’ll see a bit of a pulse around the 12th and 13th of July with some 6ft to 6ft swell from the NW, but the cross-shore breeze is just too strong, creating a lumpy cross-chop. It’s a no-go. After that, the swell drops right off, with tiny waves through the middle of the month. The long period swells that show up (like 20 seconds on the 15th) just don’t have any size behind them, and the wind is still junk.

We’ve got a long gap of about a week and a half with really nothing to recommend. The energy is weak, and the wind is relentless. The spot is a fairly consistent one, but it’s not happening right now.

The only glimmer of hope comes way out at the end of the forecast. Around the 24th and 25th of July, we start to see some proper energy building. You’ll see swells around 4ft to 4ft from the SW and SSW, with a period of 20-22 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The issue is that wind is still cross-shore from the NNW, 12-15 mph, so it will stay a bit messy. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve got. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

So, really, the standout window is the weekend of the 25th and 26th of July. That’s your best bet. The swell is building, and the direction from the SW is a decent match for the spot. The wind is still a problem, but it’s the only time in the whole 16 days where the energy is up and the forecast isn’t completely hopeless. It’s still not perfect, but it’s the only one worth a look for the dedicated crew.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Sat
18
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
NW
10
1.8
NW
10
1.9
NW
9
0.8
SSW
14
1.7
NW
8
1.6
NW
8
0.7
SSW
13
0.5
W
14
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.8
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
20
0.5
WNW
20
0.6
WNW
19
0.6
WNW
19
0.9
WNW
18
0.9
WNW
17
0.9
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
16
0.8
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
459
614
550
229
381
314
184
106
103
194
96
160
218
286
280
438
433
480
463
362
379
Wind (km/h)
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
25
NNW
30
N
20
N
25
NNW
30
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
N
20
N
25
N
30
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
20
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
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
3:01PM1.66m
2:11AM1.69m
3:40PM1.69m
Low Tide
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
8:23AM-0.23m
8:45PM0.65m
9:05AM-0.04m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:47
8:47
8:46
8:46
8:45
8:45
8:45
8:44
 mm
Temp °C
14
16
16
14
15
16
14
16
16
14
15
16
13
15
16
14
14
15
13
15
16
Feels °C
9
11
11
9
11
11
9
12
11
10
11
12
9
11
11
10
9
10
8
11
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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