Surf Forecasts:
Lacanau Ocean surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, NNW swell with 114 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NW 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lacanau Ocean in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lacanau Ocean over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next two weeks at Lacanau Ocean, and be honest: it’s not firing.
First thing, the water is a balmy 77°F, which is about 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a real anomaly, so you’ll be comfortable without a wetsuit.
The whole 16-day window is a bit of a struggle. A lot of onshore and cross-shore winds are making a mess of things. For the first week and a half, the scores are low, and “poor surf conditions” is the story. There’s a real lull from now until the morning of July 27th where there’s just nothing worth paddling for.
Even the 26th of July – Sunday morning – shows a 1.3m (4ft) swell from the WNW with a combined energy of 192 (moderate energy), but the wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be choppy. Not the one.
The real highlight comes on the morning of Tuesday, July 28th. It’s not a big swell, just 0.9m (3ft) from the NW, with an 8-second period, but the wind is the key. It’s glassy. A light offshore from the WNW, dead flat. That’s a massive win for Lacanau. The combined energy is 101 (moderate), so there’s enough juice to get into a wave. Conditions are described as “surfable but very ordinary,” but with glassy wind and a clean surface, it’s the best we’ll see. It’s a small day, perfect for a longboard or a fun fish, but it’s the only window where the ocean is cooperating.
After that, we get a few days with longer period groundswell (11 seconds) around the 29th to the 31st of July, which means better shaped waves, but it’s mostly onshore wind, which will ruin them. The morning of August 1st could be glassy again, but the swell is tiny.
The pick of the pack is that Tuesday morning. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only time the wind isn’t working against you.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun night, min 20°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 8 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 15 | 33 | 14 | 55 | 47 | 33 | 49 | 37 | 33 | 27 | 46 | 97 | 51 | 84 | 92 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:52PM4.23m | 8:20AM3.77m | 8:37PM4.02m | 9:05AM3.57m | 9:23PM3.74m | 9:52AM3.36m | 10:12PM3.43m | 10:43AM3.15m | 11:08PM3.14m | 11:43AM2.99m | 00:15AM2.93m | 12:52PM2.91m | 1:29AM2.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:18PM0.09m | 1:50AM0.03m | 2:03PM0.23m | 2:34AM0.25m | 2:48PM0.44m | 3:19AM0.52m | 3:35PM0.70m | 4:05AM0.80m | 4:25PM0.97m | 4:56AM1.07m | 5:23PM1.19m | 5:54AM1.27m | 6:31PM1.32m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:43 | — | — | 9:42 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | NNW 5 | WNW 8 | NW 5 | W 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 5 | W 11 | WNW 11 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | WNW 10 | W 10 | NW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 33 | 10 | 11 | 33 | 27 | 10 | 7 | 51 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 8 | W 4 | — | W 10 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 8 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | W 9 | — | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | — | — | 7 | — | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | W 11 | NW 6 | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | NW 4 | NNW 4 | — | NW 6 | NE 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NE 3 | N 6 | NNW 5 | — | ENE 3 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | — | NW 7 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 19 | 15 | 7 | — | 3 | 23 | — | 33 | 15 | 55 | 47 | 4 | 49 | 37 | — | 1 | 46 | 97 | — | 84 | 92 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 918 | 918 | 1041 | 1113 | 685 | 397 | 286 | 54 | 61 | 211 | 88 | 88 | 211 | 53 | 41 | 211 | 186 | 27 | 211 | 54 | |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gironde | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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