
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SW swell with 316 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 0.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you—it’s a rough start. For the first week and a half, from Thursday the 6th of August all the way through to Friday the 14th, it’s basically a write-off. We’re looking at a solid 8-day stretch of poor surf conditions, with messy cross-shore winds and tiny, weak swells that just won’t line up. The water’s sitting at a chilly 52°—that’s a massive 6° colder than usual for this time of year, which is very unusual, so you’ll want a thick suit if you even bother paddling out. Honestly, for the first 8 days, don’t bother.
Things finally start to flicker to life around Saturday the 15th. We get a bit of a bump, with a 3ft swell from the SSW and period around 17 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and while the conditions are still just marginal with light cross-onshore breezes, the wave energy is climbing into the moderate range (620). It’s not the day to call in sick for, but it’s a sign that the ocean’s waking up.
Now, here’s where we get the standout of the whole outlook. Sunday the 16th of August. That’s your day. The swell holds steady at 3ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy. Zero wind in the afternoon, just clean, smooth conditions. Wave energy is strong (522), and the break is going to be clean as a whistle. For a spot that’s exposed to the SW, and with that long-period groundswell, the point and reef setups here will be holding that energy beautifully. It’s not a huge day, but with those conditions, the quality will make up for it. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.
Monday the 17th offers a little something—3ft from the SSW with cross-offshore winds from the SE keeping it clean. The energy is moderate (357). It’s a decent follow-up, but not as good as Sunday.
After that, we get a shift. Tuesday the 18th brings a new swell from the WNW, building through Wednesday the 19th. By Wednesday morning, we’re looking at 5ft from the WNW, with a 13-second period. The energy is strong (939), and the swell is getting some size. But the wind is cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph, which will put a bit of texture on the face. This is pushing into expert-only territory at 5ft, especially at an exposed break like this. It’s worth a look for the crew with a bigger board, but it’s not the glassy perfection of that Sunday.
Thursday the 20th is similar but easing—4ft from the WNW with a shorter 11-second period. The energy is still moderate (720), but the cross-shore wind picks up to 12-16 mph, making it lumpy.
Then we drop back off into poor, small surf from Friday the 21st onward. So, to sum it up: suffer through the first 8 days, then circle Sunday the 16th of August on your calendar. That’s the best on offer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu morning, fresh winds from the N by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
87 | 85 | 83 | 85 | 131 | 107 | 235 | 240 | 147 | 198 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 134 | 95 | 115 | 209 | 152 | 137 | 173 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:33PM1.86m | 8:19AM1.14m | 6:32PM1.91m | 9:34AM1.24m | 7:36PM1.98m | 10:27AM1.35m | 8:39PM2.04m | 11:10AM1.45m | 9:39PM2.09m | 11:49AM1.53m | 10:34PM2.09m | 12:26PM1.60m | 11:26PM2.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:14AM0.82m | 1:20AM0.09m | 12:27PM0.95m | 2:27AM-0.06m | 1:45PM1.00m | 3:27AM-0.20m | 2:55PM0.97m | 4:20AM-0.29m | 3:57PM0.89m | 5:08AM-0.34m | 4:52PM0.79m | 5:51AM-0.32m | 5:45PM0.68m | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 |
91 | 85 | 83 | 57 | 79 | 80 | 235 | 240 | 147 | 198 | 196 | 167 | 165 | 163 | 60 | 70 | 115 | 209 | 152 | 137 | 173 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
40 | 18 | 82 | 80 | 131 | 107 | 37 | 21 | 56 | 37 | 14 | 72 | 67 | 98 | 134 | 95 | 113 | 80 | 34 | 68 | 70 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | SSW 21 | W 12 | SSW 19 | NW 11 | W 13 | SW 23 | SW 23 | W 12 | SSW 11 | W 15 | S 13 | SW 16 | — | S 20 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 16 |
87 | 37 | 13 | 85 | 11 | 74 | 33 | 31 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 39 | — | 30 | 11 | 33 | 67 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 |
— | 149 | 157 | 183 | 248 | 345 | 408 | 643 | 1058 | 1064 | 899 | 1274 | 1106 | 1093 | 1834 | 1569 | 1274 | 2002 | 1364 | 1356 | 2247 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 211 | 294 | 54 | 151 | 51 | 40 | 244 | 780 | 41 | 262 | 437 | 41 | 561 | 54 | 54 | 219 | 750 | 54 | 180 | 80 | 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.











