Guethary - Les Alcyons/Avalanche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag around here. We’ve got some solid potential building towards the end of the month and into early September, but you’re going to have to sit through a fair bit of flat, sloppy, or just plain ordinary conditions before the good stuff shows up.

Looking at the whole picture, the standout window is shaping up for the very end of the month and into the first week of September. The rest of the time is a write-off for anything decent, with a long stretch of poor surf and very little to get excited about.

So, here’s the rundown:

We start off with a long, quiet spell. From now through the 27th of August, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the period is short, and the energy is weak. We’re talking about small, messy waves with barely any push. The winds are all over the place, but mostly cross or onshore, keeping things chopped up. It’s a real dry spell in the surf department.

Then, on Friday the 28th of August, we finally see a pulse of energy. The swell picks up to around 6 ft from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds and moderate energy (599). The catch? The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy. The conditions are marginal, and the tide might not be playing ball either. It’s a “maybe” session for the keen, but not a standout.

Saturday the 29th of August, the swell builds further. We’re looking at 8 ft from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds, and the energy is strong (1207). But again, the wind is cross-onshore, and the forecast says it’s marginal. That’s a fair bit of size, so it’s going to be heavy and probably a bit messy. This is expert territory only, and only if you’re willing to deal with the chop.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 30th of August morning is, without a doubt, the best call in the whole outlook. The swell drops back to a more manageable 4 ft from the NW, period is 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate (250). But the real magic is the wind: glassy, with a slight air from the ENE. That’s going to give you clean, smooth waves at Guethary - Les Alcyons/Avalanche. This is a reef break, consistent, and it’s an expert wave, so it’s not one for the beginners. The swell is coming from the W, which is the optimum direction for this spot. The water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s the one session in the whole window that looks genuinely good. The crowd factor is “often” here, so expect some company, but for conditions like that, it’s worth it.

After that, the 31st of August and the 1st of September see the swell drop back down and the wind turning onshore or cross-onshore, killing the quality. It’s back to poor surf.

Then there’s another gap. From the 2nd of September through the 5th of September, it’s small, weak, and mostly messy. The swell is barely there, and the wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore. Nothing to see here.

The final glimmer is on Monday the 7th of September morning. We get a clean, 4 ft swell from the NW with a long period of 12 seconds (452 energy). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the E, so the surface will be clean. This is a long-period groundswell, which means better shaped waves and more energy, but it can be a bit straight at beach breaks. For a reef like Les Alcyons/Avalanche, this should be a good match. It’s a promising session, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Sunday morning the 30th of August for glassy, clean waves at the reef. The Monday morning the 7th of September is also worth keeping on the radar for a clean, long-period swell. Everything else is a struggle.

Rusty.

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