Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, this forecast is a bit of a heartbreaker for the first week. The water is sitting at 55°F – that’s a good bit colder than you’d expect for this time of year, a solid 3°F on the chilly side, so don’t forget the good rubber.

Right now and for the next several days, we’re looking at a persistent run of cross-shore winds that are just messing things up. The swell is there, but it’s small and junky, and the wind is putting a chop on it. There’s a bit of energy hanging around with combined energy values in the 700s (711) on Sunday the 6th, but it’s a 3ft SSW swell with a messy cross-breeze. It’s pretty much a write-off for a proper surf until the middle of the second week.

We’ve got a big gap here with no real recommendation. The wind just won’t let up, and the swell quality is poor. It’s not until Thursday the 17th that we see a glimmer of hope. That morning, the wind finally goes glassy – a light NW breeze at 3 mph. The swell is tiny, only 1ft from the SW, but it’s got a very long period of 21 seconds. That kind of groundswell carries a lot of energy for its size (393 combined energy), but it’s going to be super clean. It’s a bit of a sneaky, small-wave day for a patient surfer.

The true standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is Friday the 18th. That afternoon, Cape Mendocino should be absolute magic. The wind is going glassy, a light WNW breeze at 3 mph, with a 2ft SW groundswell rolling in at a nice 19-second period. The combined energy bumps up to 534, and the conditions are set to be very clean. This is a classic, long-period groundswell that will wrap in nicely. It’s not big, but it will be beautiful and lined up. Best bet on the whole forecast.

The following Saturday and Sunday the 19th and 20th look promising too, with more glassy windows and a similar 2ft to 3ft SW swell, though the wind might be a little more cross-on at times. Still, a far cry better than the first week. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, so you might see a few other souls out there, but it’s likely worth the paddle.

Keep in mind, that big swell on the 13th of September (6ft NW) was a poor-quality, short-period windswell with a strong cross-breeze – that’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session. Let’s just focus on that sweet Friday the 18th.

Rusty

Read more