Seignosse - Le Penon Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple weeks are looking pretty slim at Le Penon. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf and most days are going to be spoiled by onshore or cross-shore winds. There is one little window of hope further out, though, that might just save the run.

From right now, through the rest of this week, it’s mostly flat. Wednesday the 5th is a complete non-event – maybe 2.3ft of weak WNW swell with cross winds, energy just 58. Don’t bother. Thursday the 6th bumps up a touch with a NW swell at 3ft, but winds are cross-offshore in the morning which tidies it up a bit. Still, the energy is weak (121) – it’s surfable but nothing to write home about. The afternoon turns onshore and choppy, so it’s a morning-only deal.

Then from Friday the 7th through around Tuesday the 12th, we’re in a proper flat spell. Swell heights drop to 1.3-2.6ft, periods are short and weak, and there’s just no power. Energy readings are mostly low – 47 on Friday afternoon, or a pitiful 19 on Saturday afternoon. There are some glassy moments early Friday and on Tuesday the 11th, but the swell is just too small to do anything with.

Wednesday the 12th brings a slight bump – a WNW swell at 3.9ft with a short 6-second period. It’s glassy in the morning, which is nice, and the energy is 123, so it’s not nothing. But the short period means it’ll just close out and offer no real shape. The rest of that week and into the next weekend – 13th through 17th – is more of the same. Onshore winds, tiny surf, poor conditions. This whole stretch is looking like a write-off for paddle surfing. If you’re into kites, the onshores and small waves might make it more interesting, but for a surfboard, it’s bleak.

Now, here’s the one to circle. Tuesday the 18th of August, early morning. Finally, a real pulse. We’re looking at a NW groundswell at 5.9ft with a 10-second period – a massive step up from everything before. Wave energy is strong at 677, and with a gentle offshore-cross breeze, Le Penon should actually turn on. This is hands-down the best window in the whole forecast. The afternoon goes a bit cross-onshore and messy, so get out there early. After that, we settle back into small, ordinary conditions for the 19th and 20th.

Also, the water is noticeably warm for this time of year, about 75.2°F with a +4.3°F anomaly – much warmer than usual. That’s a nice bonus if you’re paddling out.

So, overall: don’t get excited for the next week and a half, but that Tuesday the 18th morning has some real potential. It’s a long-range call, so treat it as promising but not guaranteed. Keep an eye on it.

That’s the picture. Stay stoked.

Read more