Marine forecast
Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm)
- current wind
- 10 kt NNW
- Gusts
- 14 kt
- Seas
- 7.9 ft
- Period
- 13 sec
- Water
- 55°F
Observed Tue 12:10 PM | PZZ475
- Gusts now
- 14 kt
- Seas now
- 7.9 ft · 13 sec
- Water
- 55°F
- 72-hr peak
- 22 kt
- Peak seas
- 8 ft
In brief
At 12:10 pm PDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 46014 (PT ARENA - 19NM North of Point Arena, CA, 46 miles away) measured wind from the NNW at 10 kt, gusting to 14 kt; buoy 46213 measured seas of 7.9 ft. The NWS forecast for Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm) issued at 8:33 am PDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for rest of today: “N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.” A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until Wed 3:00 PM.
Source: National Weather Service Eureka CA forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 22 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 10 ft
Marine advisory
Small Craft Advisory in effect for Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm) until Wed 3:00 PM.
Full text of this small craft advisory
* WHAT...North winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt and seas 6 to 9 feet. * WHERE...Waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA from 10 to 60 nm. * WHEN...Until 3 PM PDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Rest Of Today | N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Wave Detail: NW 8 ft at 8 seconds and NW 4 ft at 15 seconds. |
| Tonight | N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Wave Detail: NW 6 ft at 7 seconds and NW 4 ft at 14 seconds. |
| Wed | N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Wave Detail: NW 6 ft at 6 seconds and NW 4 ft at 14 seconds. |
| Wed Night | NW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. Wave Detail: NW 6 ft at 6 seconds and NW 4 ft at 13 seconds. |
| Thu | N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Wave Detail: N 6 ft at 7 seconds and NW 4 ft at 12 seconds. |
| Thu Night | N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Wave Detail: N 4 ft at 6 seconds and NW 5 ft at 12 seconds. |
| Fri | N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. Wave Detail: N 5 ft at 6 seconds and NW 4 ft at 12 seconds. |
| Fri Night | N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Wave Detail: N 6 ft at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. |
| Sat | N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Wave Detail: N 6 ft at 6 seconds and W 5 ft at 13 seconds. |
| Sat Night | N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Wave Detail: N 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 6 ft at 13 seconds. |
Issued Tue 8:33 AM by Eureka CA (product CWFEKA).
Synopsis
Clear skies and northerly winds forecasted through the day. Seas remain steep and hazardous to smaller crafts through the morning in the outer waters as decaying short period seas mix with a moderately large NW swell. Moderate to fresh breezes and diminishing seas expected for areas outside the lee of Cape Mendocino for much of the week.
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 12:10 PM | 10 kt NNW | 14 kt | — | 55°F |
| Tue 11:50 AM | 10 kt NNW | 12 kt | 5.9 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 10:50 AM | 8 kt NNW | 10 kt | 5.6 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 9:50 AM | 8 kt NNE | 10 kt | 6.2 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 8:50 AM | 6 kt N | 6 kt | 6.6 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 7:50 AM | 6 kt N | 6 kt | 7.2 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 6:50 AM | 4 kt NNE | 6 kt | 6.6 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 5:50 AM | 6 kt NE | 8 kt | 5.9 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 4:50 AM | 8 kt N | 8 kt | 7.2 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 3:50 AM | 10 kt N | 12 kt | 6.9 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 2:50 AM | 12 kt NNW | 14 kt | 6.6 ft | 55°F |
| Tue 1:50 AM | 6 kt NW | 8 kt | 6.9 ft | 55°F |
Observed Tue 12:10 PM at NDBC buoy 46014 (PT ARENA - 19NM North of Point Arena, CA), 46.1 miles away. Seas from buoy 46213 (Cape Mendocino, CA (094)), 42.1 miles away, at Tue 12:00 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm) today?
Rest Of Today: N wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Wave Detail: NW 8 ft at 8 seconds and NW 4 ft at 15 seconds.
Is there a small craft advisory for Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm)?
Yes — small craft advisory in effect until Wed 3:00 PM.
How high are the waves at Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm) right now?
Seas are running 7.9 ft at a 13-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 46014 Tue 12:10 PM, 46.1 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 8.0 ft Tue 12 PM.
What is the water temperature at Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA (10-60 nm)?
The nearest buoy read 55°F (13°C) at Tue 12:10 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone PZZ475, issued by Eureka CA, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFEKA, issued Tue 8:33 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station 46014, read Tue 12:10 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 12:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.