Surf Forecasts:
Cape Mendocino surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, NW swell with 628 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period with NW 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 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11PM. 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Mendocino over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty, and here's what's happening for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it's a pretty bleak stretch ahead. We're looking at a long run of no real surf on offer, with a big gap of poor conditions stretching from now through until the 4th of August. The wind is up and the swell is tiny, so don't even bother waxing up for a while.
The only time things get even slightly interesting is around Wednesday the 5th of August. Cape Mendocino (Cape-Mendocino) will see a bump of swell from the NW hitting 6 ft, but it's a short-period 8-second windswell with a moderate wave energy (571). The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it'll be a bit bumpy, but it's the best we've got. That's a marginal call at best, and it's really only for the dedicated.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.
After that, conditions drop back into the gutter for a solid week, with nothing but messy cross-shore winds and tiny surf. There's another brief flicker of hope on Thursday the 13th of August, with a 6 ft NW swell (810 energy), but again, it's a short-period windswell with light cross-onshore winds, leaving it marginal and messy.
Beyond that, the second week offers very little. The swell sticks around the 3 ft mark but the wind is always a problem, making for poor, choppy conditions. We're looking at a blank run overall. Cape Mendocino is a fairly consistent spot, so it's a bit of a surprise, but sometimes the ocean just doesn't cooperate.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Sat night, light winds from the N by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 99 | 92 | 70 | 49 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 86 | 78 | 56 | 467 | 418 | 268 | 221 | 226 | 113 | 85 | 130 | 107 |
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-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 1:37AM1.58m | 2:50PM1.63m | 2:28AM1.44m | 3:22PM1.69m | 3:30AM1.28m | 3:58PM1.75m | 4:51AM1.14m | 4:41PM1.81m | 6:35AM1.09m | 5:33PM1.86m | 8:19AM1.14m | 6:32PM1.91m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:07PM0.70m | 8:22AM0.12m | 8:57PM0.60m | 8:56AM0.27m | 9:54PM0.50m | 9:34AM0.46m | 10:58PM0.37m | 10:18AM0.65m | 00:08AM0.24m | 11:14AM0.82m | 1:20AM0.09m | 12:27PM0.95m | 2:27AM-0.06m | ||||||
 | | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 8:31 | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | SW 15 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 13 | NNW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 99 | 92 | 70 | 44 | 44 | 43 | 1495 | 864 | 78 | 581 | 467 | 418 | 268 | 221 | 85 | 154 | 57 | 80 | 82 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 82 | 46 | 45 | 49 | 43 | 41 | 41 | 86 | 14 | 56 | 73 | 100 | 96 | 88 | 37 | 113 | 80 | 130 | 107 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 11 | S 13 | SW 20 | S 12 | SW 18 | SSW 21 | S 12 | SSW 19 |
| kJ | 15 | 13 | 49 | 29 | 12 | 11 | 24 | 14 | 16 | 41 | 31 | 12 | 30 | 60 | 11 | 82 | 85 | 11 | 74 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | 996 | 1114 | 1482 | 2490 | 1495 | 1569 | — | — | 749 | — | — | — | — | — | 226 | — | 263 | 319 | 345 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 294 | 780 | 54 | 219 | 51 | 41 | 51 | 151 | 40 | 191 | 51 | 45 | 51 | 151 | 51 | 151 | 52 | 40 |
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.
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