
Surf Forecasts:
Lacanau Ocean surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with 136 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 5AM. 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+) | 5AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lacanau Ocean over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Lacanau are gonna test your patience. We’ve got a long, flat, and messy stretch ahead, but there’s one morning that looks worth circling on the calendar.
The opening days are a write-off. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are small, onshore, and choppy—nothing but whitewash and frustration. Thursday the 6th sees a bit more push, with a weak swell building to around 3 feet, but the northwest wind is going to have it all chopped up. Friday the 7th morning cleans up with a light offshore breeze, but the swell is tiny and weak (56 combined energy), so it’s more of a longboard glide than a proper surf. Saturday the 8th is even smaller. Sunday the 9th gets a touch of long-period groundswell, but it’s barely breaking and the wind swings onshore.
We’re looking at a real flat spell from the 10th through the 14th. The swell stays below 3 feet, the winds are mostly cross or onshore, and the energy readings are weak—mostly in the 30s to 60s, with a brief uptick on the 14th afternoon to 144. But that’s still poor quality, just more water moving around. Don’t bother.
Now here’s the one to watch: Saturday the 15th of August, early. We’ve got a fresh pulse of west-northwest swell around 4 feet, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 211—that’s the strongest reading in the whole run. The morning is clean, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the northeast, so the sets should have some shape. Lacanau Ocean will be the spot. It’s a consistent, exposed beach break, so expect it to be busy, but this is the standout of the window. After lunch the wind swings northwest and chops it up, so make the most of the morning session.
Sunday the 16th still has some size—around 5 feet—and the early glass is perfect, but the period has dropped to 7 seconds, and it’s not going to hold together as well. By Monday the 17th, it’s softening and getting blown out again. The last couple of days drop right back off into the poor range.
So there you have it. One solid morning on the 15th, maybe a dawny on the 16th if you’re keen. Water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Stay patient, keep an eye on that Saturday forecast, and charge hard when it comes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
41 | 38 | 68 | 69 | 57 | 43 | 111 | 101 | 76 | 74 | 39 | 52 | 58 | 18 | 19 | 25 | 41 | 38 | 32 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | on | off |
High Tide | 8:21PM3.73m | 8:43AM3.47m | 9:00PM3.57m | 9:26AM3.34m | 9:49PM3.37m | 10:23AM3.19m | 10:58PM3.17m | 11:43AM3.08m | 00:34AM3.07m | 1:18PM3.14m | 2:05AM3.17m | 2:37PM3.38m | 3:16AM3.41m | ||||||
Low Tide | 2:36AM0.43m | 2:51PM0.57m | 3:19AM0.60m | 3:39PM0.74m | 4:10AM0.80m | 4:37PM0.91m | 5:12AM0.99m | 5:49PM1.02m | 6:27AM1.08m | 7:11PM0.99m | 7:47AM1.00m | 8:30PM0.77m | |||||||
— | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
9:29 | — | — | 9:28 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:23 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | NNW 5 | W 9 | NNW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
41 | 38 | 68 | 69 | 57 | 12 | 111 | 101 | 19 | 17 | 39 | 16 | 7 | 18 | 7 | 25 | 41 | 38 | 32 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 11 | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | W 9 | W 13 | WNW 11 | NW 4 | NW 4 | SW 4 |
1 | 1 | — | 15 | 23 | — | 9 | 19 | — | 17 | 17 | — | — | 7 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | NW 4 |
2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 2 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | NW 6 | NNW 5 | — | NNW 5 | — | S 3 | SW 3 | — |
— | — | 2 | — | — | 43 | — | — | 76 | 74 | — | 52 | 58 | — | 19 | — | 1 | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 396 | 676 | 150 | 151 | 415 | 143 | 143 | 211 | 149 | 0 | 711 | 0 | 88 | 389 | 0 | 0 | 370 | 41 |
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.











