
Surf Forecasts:
Lacanau Ocean surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, NNW swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lacanau Ocean this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Lacanau Ocean in the next 16 days are 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lacanau Ocean over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, lookin' at the surf for Lacanau Ocean. We've got a bit of a flat spell to start, so don't get too excited just yet. The water is a stonking 78°, which is a massive 9° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's way above normal, feels like a bath out there.
The first few days are a write-off. From Monday the 20th of July right through to the morning of Tuesday the 28th, it's a total dud. Tiny dribbles, cross-shore winds, and just no energy to speak of. The combined energy of all swells is barely a whisper (values between 11 and 57). It's a proper gap of over a week with nothing to recommend. You'd be better off on a stand-up paddleboard or just soaking up that weirdly warm water.
Then things start to get interesting. The morning of Tuesday the 28th of July shows a pulse of 3ft swell from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds, giving a moderate energy of 212. The wind is a light cross-shore breeze, but it's still listed as marginal. The real standout is the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. We've got a 4ft groundswell from the NW, a 10-second period, and a solid 217 in the energy department. But the best bit? The wind is glassy, dead calm. That's a rare treat for a beach break like Lacanau Ocean. It's going to be clean, with those longer-period lines offering a bit of breathing room between sets. This is the pick of the entire forecast, but it's a one-morning wonder; the afternoon gets chopped up by a cross-shore wind.
The rest of the run into the first week of August is a mixed bag. Morning of Thursday the 30th of July has a clean 4ft, but with a short 7-second period, it'll be a bit weak. The morning of the 1st of August is another glassy morning, with 3ft from the WNW, but the energy is low (116). Look, if you're keen, the Wednesday morning (29th of July) is the one to aim for. Get out there early before the wind picks up. After that, keep an eye on the 4th of August, which has a bigger 4ft swell with a 10-second period and 314 energy, but it's onshore and choppy, so not the clean ride you'd want.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Mon night, min 18°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | N 5 | N 5 | WNW 11 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | W 9 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 37 | 54 | 12 | 42 | 26 | 10 | 22 | 53 | 19 | 17 | 25 | 6 | 17 | 28 | 13 | 35 | 33 | 39 | 33 | 35 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:52AM3.36m | 10:12PM3.43m | 10:43AM3.15m | 11:08PM3.14m | 11:43AM2.99m | 00:15AM2.93m | 12:52PM2.91m | 1:29AM2.85m | 2:02PM2.94m | 2:37AM2.90m | 3:02PM3.06m | 3:32AM3.03m | 3:51PM3.24m | 4:16AM3.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:35PM0.70m | 4:05AM0.80m | 4:25PM0.97m | 4:56AM1.07m | 5:23PM1.19m | 5:54AM1.27m | 6:31PM1.32m | 7:02AM1.37m | 7:44PM1.33m | 8:11AM1.33m | 8:49PM1.21m | 9:09AM1.19m | 9:42PM1.02m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:43 | — | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:38 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 23 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 30 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 17 | 23 | 25 | 17 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NW 5 | WNW 10 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | W 9 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NW 10 | NW 6 | WNW 11 | NW 10 |
6 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 53 | 19 | 6 | 25 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 39 | 13 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 12 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 12 | W 11 | W 8 | WNW 12 | W 9 | NW 6 |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | — | 7 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — |
3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNE 4 | NNW 5 | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | NW 6 | NW 5 |
24 | 37 | 54 | 62 | 42 | 26 | 12 | 22 | — | — | 17 | — | — | 17 | 28 | 13 | 35 | 33 | — | 33 | 35 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 88 | 211 | 88 | 61 | 211 | 54 | 88 | 211 | 54 | 88 | 286 | 88 | 496 | 895 | 960 | 1144 | 1518 | 635 | 363 | 489 | 205 |
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.










