Surf Forecasts:
La Ciotat surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, SW swell with 223 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for La Ciotat this week:
The surf forecast for La Ciotat over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at La Ciotat in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for La Ciotat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you—this is a tough one. For the next couple of weeks around here, the surf is mostly a no-show, with only a couple of brief, very average moments to speak of. The water is cooking though, a solid 82° right now, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year.
We start with a bit of a tease. On Tuesday, August 18th, the afternoon brings a pulse of 5ft swell from the West at La Ciotat. The wind is offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, which will clean things up. The combined wave energy is moderate (146), and the period is a short 6 seconds, so don't expect much power or shape. It's surfable, but nothing to write home about.
Then the tap gets turned off. From Wednesday the 19th all the way through to the morning of Friday the 21st, there's nothing. Zilch. On the Friday afternoon of August 21st, we get a brief window. Another 5ft swell, this time from the Southwest, and the wind goes completely glassy. The energy is similar (149), but with that short period again. It’ll be clean, but weak and pretty ordinary.
After that, it’s a long, sad grind. For the rest of August and into the first couple of days of September, the swell completely dries up. Heights stay below 2ft, and the combined energy barely scrapes double digits. There is a tiny flicker on Saturday, August 29th in the morning, with 1.0ft and glassy conditions from the NNE, but it's just not enough to bother with.
The bottom line: if you're desperate for a paddle, the Friday afternoon of the 21st offers the cleanest, most surfable waves of the whole run, but even then it's only small and weak. The rest is a write-off for surf. For most of this period, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the lack of swell and occasional stronger breezes. Keep the board in the car and hope the long-range charts start looking better.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | W 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | S 6 | NW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 146 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 149 | 51 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:22PM0.18m | 1:13AM0.19m | 2:26PM0.17m | 1:50AM0.16m | 3:55PM0.17m | 2:36AM0.15m | 5:34PM0.18m | 6:47PM0.20m | 5:53AM0.14m | 7:36PM0.21m | 6:53AM0.15m | 8:13PM0.23m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:10PM0.09m | 7:48AM0.07m | 8:14PM0.11m | 8:34AM0.07m | 10:02PM0.13m | 9:43AM0.08m | 00:27AM0.12m | 11:03AM0.07m | 1:34AM0.11m | 12:12PM0.06m | 2:11AM0.10m | 1:03PM0.05m | 2:40AM0.09m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 34 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 5 | — | SW 4 | — | — | S 5 | — | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | WNW 3 | W 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | NW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 15 | — | 12 | — | — | 20 | — | 149 | 51 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | S 8 | SW 7 | — | SW 7 | SSW 6 | — | SW 6 | S 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 4 | W 4 | — | SW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 5 | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | W 3 | SSW 3 | NW 4 |
| kJ | 160 | 146 | 40 | 17 | 9 | — | 9 | 9 | — | 90 | — | 4 | 36 | 26 | 7 | — | — | 5 | 8 | 2 | 59 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 79 | 2 | 42 | 863 | 137 | 210 | 598 | 193 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 374 | 417 | 417 | 416 | 547 | 416 | 344 | 210 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cote d'Azur | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the La Ciotat Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for La Ciotat provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at La Ciotat can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our La Ciotat 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 (La Ciotat) 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 La Ciotat 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.
La Ciotat is 2 km (1 miles) from La Ciotat. If you plan a holiday in Cote d'Azur, look for hotels and other accommodation in La Ciotat. La Ciotat has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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