
Surf Forecasts:
Lacanau Ocean surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, WNW swell with 73 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. 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 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lacanau Ocean over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Lacanau Ocean.
Honestly, I’ve got to be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. We’re stuck in a real flat spell. From Wednesday the 29th of July right through to Sunday the 9th of August, it’s all small, weak, and messy. The combined wave energy is mostly under 100 (just 73 on Wednesday morning), and the swell is tiny, peaking at a measly 4ft on Saturday the 1st of August, but that’s with a short period of 6 seconds and a cross-shore breeze. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. You’d be better off taking the dog for a walk.
There’s a big gap of nothing until we finally see a flicker of hope on Monday the 10th of August. The morning brings a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the NE at 6 mph, with a knee-high 3ft swell from the WNW. The energy ticks up to 90, but it’s still just described as “surfable but very ordinary”. It’s a start, but don’t get your hopes up.
The only real standout in this whole 16-day window comes on Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning session is the one to circle. We’ve got a clean cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, and the swell bumps up to 4ft from the NW. The combined energy hits 160 (moderate), and while the period is a short 7 seconds, the clean conditions will make it ridable. It’s still not pumping, but it’s the best we’ll see. The afternoon gets chopped up by a 12 mph cross-onshore and the swell jumps to 6ft, which is getting too big for beginners and messy for everyone else.
Wednesday the 12th of August has a similar 4ft swell in the morning, but the onshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph spoils it. After that, it’s back to small, weak, and wind-affected until the end of the forecast.
So, if you’re desperate, set your alarm for Tuesday the 11th of August, early. For the rest of it, it’s a waiting game. The water temp is sitting at 72°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re bobbing around.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 10 | NW 5 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
73 | 70 | 50 | 40 | 52 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 58 | 66 | 64 | 43 | 24 | 26 | 30 | 18 | 30 | 37 | 18 | 29 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:42PM3.76m | 6:01AM3.58m | 6:14PM3.87m | 6:33AM3.64m | 6:45PM3.92m | 7:03AM3.65m | 7:16PM3.91m | 7:34AM3.63m | 7:47PM3.85m | 8:07AM3.57m | 8:21PM3.73m | 8:43AM3.47m | 9:00PM3.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:15AM0.61m | 11:41PM0.46m | 11:50AM0.46m | 00:15AM0.35m | 12:24PM0.37m | 00:49AM0.28m | 12:58PM0.33m | 1:23AM0.28m | 1:33PM0.36m | 1:58AM0.33m | 2:10PM0.44m | 2:36AM0.43m | 2:51PM0.57m | 3:19AM0.60m | |||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:32 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:28 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 5 | WNW 8 | W 12 | NW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | NW 5 | W 8 | W 10 | NW 5 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 |
73 | 70 | 50 | 40 | 52 | 26 | 14 | 23 | 3 | 66 | 31 | 26 | 15 | 23 | 30 | 18 | 30 | 37 | 18 | 29 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 11 | WNW 4 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WNW 8 | — | W 12 | W 11 | — | NW 8 | W 9 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 9 | — | NW 7 | W 9 | — | W 9 |
— | — | 9 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 26 | — | 3 | 9 | — | 2 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 13 | — | 2 | 15 | — | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | NW 8 | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | NW 7 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 3 | — | WNW 4 | NW 4 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | NW 5 | — | NW 6 | NW 4 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 |
— | — | 4 | — | 13 | 18 | — | 27 | 58 | — | 64 | 43 | — | 26 | 19 | — | 17 | 10 | 13 | 20 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 185 | 213 | 228 | 211 | 169 | 143 | 649 | 131 | 112 | 211 | 54 | 96 | 635 | 186 | 389 | 432 | 122 | 143 | 676 | 428 |
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.










