
Surf Forecasts:
Les Dunes surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, WNW swell with 327 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Les Dunes this week:
The surf forecast for Les Dunes over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Les Dunes in the next 16 days are 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Les Dunes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks for our stretch of coast. It’s gonna be a frustrating run, to be honest. The ocean’s gonna be messing with us more than it’s gonna be giving us anything rideable for a long while.
We’re looking at a long, drawn-out period of small, messy, and wind-chopped conditions. For the first four or five days, you’ll be staring at flat, lumpy water more than you’ll be surfing. The waves are tiny, mostly around the 2ft mark, and the wind just keeps flipping around to put a chop on everything. There’s a slight hint of relief on the morning of Saturday the 12th, when the wind goes glassy, but the swell is just too weak at 2ft to offer much more than a dribble. It’s a classic case of “technically surfable” but not really worth getting wet for.
We finally see a pulse of real energy arrive on the morning of Wednesday the 16th. The swell jumps to 5ft from the WNW with a moderate 275 wave energy, and the wind is a clean cross-off. This is the first time things look like they might line up. But, here’s the catch: that size is predicted to be too big for our break at Les Dunes (La Côte d'Opale). It sounds crazy, but 5ft here can close out and just be a washing machine, especially for the beginners. There’s a bit of a window until the wind swings onshore that afternoon and ruins it.
After that, we go right back into the grind. For the next week, it’s more of the same: small, junky, and blown out. The swell stays weak and the winds just won't give us a break. We get a few mornings with clean conditions, like on the 18th and 19th, but the swell is too small to do anything with. The consistency isn't there and the energy just dies.
Then, to finish the run, on the morning of Friday the 25th, the ocean decides to throw us a massive curveball. We’ll see a serious groundswell roll in—5ft from the WNW with a very long 14-second period and a huge energy reading of 1072. If the winds stay light and glassy like they are forecasted, it could be epic. But again, the same problem: the surf size prediction is just too big for Les Dunes. This is not a beginner wave; it’s going to be a thick, powerful, and potentially unruly beast that’s only going to appeal to the most experienced locals who know exactly where to sit.
So, here’s the long and short of it. There’s two distinct moments—Wednesday the 16th and Friday the 25th—that have the juice, but both are flagged as being too big for this particular spot. The one that’s over 8ft? Right, that’s the Friday swell, which is a red flag for most of us. That one is pure expert territory. The short, weak-period swells in between aren't going to offer much. It’s going to be a test of patience. Don't sell your board, but maybe pick up a kite if you're keen.
Keep an eye on that Friday the 25th window— about a week and a half out, so treat it as promising but not guaranteed. But for now, it looks like a whole lot of staring at the horizon.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
148 | 99 | 64 | 63 | 55 | 127 | 150 | 135 | 96 | 88 | 59 | 38 | 69 | 311 | 176 | 227 | 214 | 202 | 136 | 70 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:49PM4.63m | 6:09AM4.37m | 6:22PM4.58m | 6:39AM4.33m | 6:52PM4.43m | 7:06AM4.21m | 7:20PM4.19m | 7:31AM4.03m | 7:46PM3.90m | 7:56AM3.80m | 8:12PM3.59m | 8:24AM3.53m | 8:43PM3.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:47PM-0.24m | 12:02PM-0.18m | 00:25AM-0.21m | 12:40PM-0.13m | 1:02AM-0.06m | 1:18PM0.03m | 1:38AM0.20m | 1:56PM0.30m | 2:15AM0.52m | 2:35PM0.63m | 2:54AM0.88m | 3:18PM0.99m | 3:38AM1.24m | |||||||
— | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | |
8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | W 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 |
148 | 99 | 64 | 63 | 55 | 127 | 150 | 135 | 96 | 88 | 59 | 38 | 11 | 39 | 176 | 14 | 214 | 202 | 136 | 70 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 16 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | W 13 | — | — | W 10 | — | W 12 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 5 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 3 | — | — | 50 | — | 67 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | NNW 3 | ENE 2 | — | — | SSE 3 | W 8 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | N 4 | — | NW 3 | NW 5 |
— | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 69 | 311 | — | 227 | 9 | — | 3 | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 253 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 502 | 9 | 22 | 172 | 3 | 9 | 293 | |
Best forecast wave conditions in Vendee | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Les Dunes Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Les Dunes provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Les Dunes can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Les Dunes 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 (Les Dunes) 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 Les Dunes 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.
Les Dunes is 8 km (5 miles) from Les Sables-d'Olonne. If you plan a holiday in Vendee, look for hotels and other accommodation in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Les Sables-d'Olonne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










