Surf Forecasts:
Lacanau Ocean surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with 151 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lacanau Ocean this week:
The surf forecast for Lacanau Ocean over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lacanau Ocean in the next 16 days are 1.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lacanau Ocean over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on offer for Lacanau Ocean over the next couple of weeks.
It’s a pretty bleak run for the most part, I’ve gotta be honest. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Thursday morning, the 13th of August. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the west, with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is glassy from the southwest at only 3 mph. The water is sitting at 76°, which is, well, much warmer than normal for this time of year—over two degrees warmer than average. The energy is weak though, only 92 (combined energy of all swells). It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s very ordinary. It’s the pick of the whole outlook, but that’s a slim compliment.
The rest of the forecast is a long, sad stretch. From Thursday afternoon through to the end of the third week, the wind is mostly cross or onshore, the swell stays small, and the wave comments are all "poor surf conditions" or "marginal." There’s a period around the 24th of August where the swell jumps up to 8ft from the WNW with a 9-second period, and the energy climbs to 972 (combined energy of all swells), but it’s accompanied by onshore winds and a risk of thunderstorms. That’s too big for beginners and ugly for everyone else—more of a kite session than a paddle session. The whole setup is a beach break, so the longish period won’t do it any favours with that wind.
If you’re desperate, the Thursday morning on the 13th is your window. It’s the only morning with clean, glassy waves and a slight chance of a fun little ride. Everything else is a write-off or a gamble. Sometimes it goes quiet like this around here; it won’t stay poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
143 | 122 | 88 | 60 | 144 | 108 | 117 | 100 | 96 | 75 | 34 | 55 | 38 | 14 | 20 | 13 | 6 | 16 | 51 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:29AM4.08m | 6:44PM4.40m | 7:08AM4.02m | 7:24PM4.27m | 7:45AM3.89m | 8:01PM4.02m | 8:21AM3.68m | 8:38PM3.71m | 8:57AM3.44m | 9:16PM3.36m | 9:36AM3.18m | 10:01PM3.03m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:01AM-0.17m | 12:13PM-0.06m | 00:42AM-0.16m | 12:54PM-0.03m | 1:21AM-0.02m | 1:34PM0.11m | 1:59AM0.21m | 2:14PM0.35m | 2:37AM0.50m | 2:55PM0.64m | 3:17AM0.83m | 3:40PM0.96m | 4:03AM1.15m | ||||||
— | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
9:15 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 32 | 29 |
Feels °C | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 31 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | — | W 10 | NW 5 | WNW 8 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | W 8 | W 8 |
143 | 122 | 88 | 60 | 144 | 108 | 117 | 100 | 96 | 75 | 34 | — | 2 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 4 | — | NW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | W 11 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 7 | W 8 | NW 10 | WNW 9 |
6 | 6 | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | 2 | 8 | — | 10 | 5 | 4 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NW 5 | — | NW 6 | — | — | NW 6 | NW 5 |
— | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | 38 | — | 20 | — | — | 16 | 51 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 70 | 134 | 285 | 172 | 97 | 151 | 77 | 77 | 211 | 186 | 70 | 211 | 152 | 212 | 711 | 315 | 387 | 161 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gironde | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lacanau Ocean Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lacanau Ocean provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lacanau Ocean can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lacanau Ocean 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 (Lacanau Ocean) 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 Lacanau Ocean 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.
Lacanau Ocean is 38 km (24 miles) from Arcachon. If you plan a holiday in Gironde, look for hotels and other accommodation in Arcachon. Arcachon has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











