Lacanau Ocean Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next few weeks.

We’re kicking off the forecast period with a bit of a dud, to be honest. The first few days don’t have much to get excited about. The swell is there, but it’s a messy mess with cross-onshore winds and rain showers making a proper mess of things. The water temp is sitting at 76°F at Lacanau Ocean, which is a solid 6°F warmer than it should be for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you’ll be swimming in a warm bath. The combined energy on Sunday 30th August is just 333 (moderate), but the conditions are poor, so we’re waiting.

Monday 31st August sees a bit more energy, with the combined swell energy hitting 631 (moderate), but still that onshore wind keeps it looking ugly. Not worth a paddle.

Then, a glimmer. Tuesday 1st September. The morning is where it’s at. The wind switches to a light cross-offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, and the 4ft WNW swell with a 10-second period cleans right up. The combined energy is 301 (moderate), and the forecast is saying “expect good surf conditions.” This is the first real window.

We then hit a bit of a flat spell. Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September are tiny, with combined energy dropping to 96 and 48 (weak). Thursday morning is glassy but the swell is only 1ft, so it’s barely a ripple.

The real stand-out window for this outlook is the morning of Saturday 5th September. Now we’re talking. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the WNW, with a 13-second period – that’s a proper groundswell, packing some punch. The combined energy is a solid 824 (strong). And the wind? A clean cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 9 mph. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer. That 5ft is a bit punchy for beginners, but it will be a dream for the intermediates. That longer period means it’ll hold up nicely at the beach break here, but keep an eye on it – it might be a bit too straight for the peak. Still, this is the session to aim for.

The following week is a mixed bag. There’s a bit of a lull, and some onshore wind days, but then we get another promising window on Saturday 12th September. The morning goes glassy, with a 5ft WNW swell and a 10-second period. The combined energy is 512 (moderate). That’s a nice, clean morning for a surf.

Finally, the last day of the forecast, Monday 14th September, gives us a killer morning. Light offshore winds from the ESE at 6 mph, and a 6ft WNW swell with a 10-second period. The combined energy is 717 (strong). The forecast is very good. That’s a strong, clean swell to sign off on. Just be aware that later in the afternoon, it goes glassy again with the 5ft swell, but that’s a bonus.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a right-off, but don’t lose hope. Your best bet is the morning of Saturday 5th September. That’s the standout. The Saturday 12th and Monday 14th mornings are also strong options. The rest of the time is looking pretty average, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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