Cape Mendocino Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.42° N 124.40° W

Cape Mendocino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Mendocino sea temperature is
12.8° C
0.9° 

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 31 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with 968 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Mendocino in the next 16 days are 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) 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 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Most Powerful11AM (Wed 5th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you, the outlook for Cape Mendocino over the next couple of weeks is a tough one to sell. We're looking at a long, frustrating stretch of mostly poor conditions. Don't expect much in the way of clean, ridable waves.

We start off with a bit of swell on Thursday the 30th – a 3ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period. The energy is moderate at 686, but that cross-shore wind at 19 mph is going to chop it all up and turn it into a lumpy mess. The water is sitting at about 55°, which is a touch cooler than average for the time of year. Honestly, it's a write-off.

That pretty much sets the tone. From there through to the beginning of August, we've got a few marginal windows on the Friday and Saturday, but it’s all cross-shore wind and small, weak swell. The best of a bad bunch might be Friday afternoon with a 5ft NW windswell, but it’s a short 9-second period and still blowing 16 mph cross-shore. Not worth getting excited about.

Then the real downer hits. From Saturday the 1st of August all the way through to Tuesday the 5th, we've got a solid gap of several days where the surf quality is just poor. Swell heights are barely breaking 2ft, and the wind is up, often over 19 mph, making for messy, lumpy conditions. It’s not even worth thinking about.

Now, there is one flicker of hope. On Wednesday the 6th of August, the morning shows a chunky 8ft NW swell rolling in. The energy jumps way up to 1035, which is strong. But the wind, while light at 6 mph, is coming from the SSW, making it a cross-onshore breeze. That’s going to put a bit of a bump on the face and the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly. It’s still a big, powerful swell so that’s one for the experienced crew only – way too much for beginners. This is the closest thing to a standout in the whole run, but the wind is a real problem.

Following that, we go straight back into the doldrums. From Thursday the 7th through to the end of the forecast on the 14th, it’s another long run of tiny surf and fresh cross-shore winds. Even when the groundswell gets some long 21-second period on the Friday morning, the swell is only 1ft and it’s blown out. The conditions are just not cooperating.

Bottom line, if you are desperate, the Wednesday the 6th morning window with that 8ft NW swell is the only real look, but even then the wind is less than ideal. Otherwise, it’s a blank run. For a spot like this that is fairly consistent, a run this poor is a little unusual, but these things happen. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Thu night, strong winds from the N by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SE by Tue night).

Thu
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
15
0.6
S
15
0.9
SSW
14
1.4
NW
9
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.3
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.3
SW
15
2.4
NW
9
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
302
171
301
287
183
134
136
99
92
70
49
44
43
40
86
79
34
968
72
50
Wind (km/h)
30
N
20
NNE
25
NNW
25
N
20
NNE
30
N
35
N
35
N
40
N
40
N
35
N
35
N
35
N
30
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
5
NNW
10
SSW
5
WSW
15
N
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
00:13AM1.79m
1:56PM1.51m
00:53AM1.70m
2:22PM1.56m
1:37AM1.58m
2:50PM1.63m
2:28AM1.44m
3:22PM1.69m
3:30AM1.28m
3:58PM1.75m
4:51AM1.14m
4:41PM1.81m
Low Tide
6:43PM0.85m
7:20AM-0.09m
7:23PM0.78m
7:50AM-0.01m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:34
8:32
8:31
8:30
8:30
8:29
8:28
 mm
Temp °C
16
15
16
17
15
17
17
14
15
16
15
17
18
16
19
19
17
16
17
15
Feels °C
11
11
12
13
12
13
13
8
8
9
9
11
11
10
15
16
14
15
17
16
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  • 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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