Surf Forecasts:
Les Dunes surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, WNW swell with 312 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with WNW 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Les Dunes in the next 16 days are 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Les Dunes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s coming up for Les Dunes. I’ll be straight with ya – the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, and you’ll have to be patient.
We’ve got a long dry spell kicking things off. From Monday the 17th all the way through to Wednesday the 26th of August, the surf is just not happening. That’s over a week of tiny, weak waves with choppy onshore winds ruining any chance of a decent ride. Energy levels are pitiful, mostly in the double digits, and the swell is just too small and weak to bother with. You’d be better off doing something else.
Things finally start to look interesting on Thursday the 27th of August. The morning session is our first real standout. A nice 4ft swell rolling in from the WNW combines with clean cross-offshore winds from the NNW. The energy jumps up to 500, which is serious power for this spot. But – and this is a big but – the model is saying the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a warning sign. For a beginner spot like Les Dunes, anything over 5ft gets sketchy, and while this is just under that, the power might make it a handful. The water temperature is sitting at 70°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no worries there.
The afternoon on the 27th gets messy with cross-shore wind and drops in energy, so stick to the morning window.
Looking way out to Monday the 31st of August, we see a very long-period groundswell sneaking in. We’re talking 2ft from the west with a massive 17-second period. That kind of period is almost too straight for a beach break like this – it’s better suited to a point or reef. The energy is strong at 306, but the description says “marginal” surf, likely due to funky tide conditions. Still, if you’re keen, the morning has super light cross-shore winds that could make it glassy.
Then Tuesday the 1st of September is a write-off. Strong 25 mph onshore winds and a 4ft, 14-second swell (energy 650) – that’s just a messy, blown-out disaster.
So to wrap it up: if you’ve got a board and want the best chance, aim for the morning of Thursday the 27th of August. That’s the pick of the bunch. The 31st is a long-shot gamble for the experienced crew. Otherwise, the next two weeks are full of waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat night, min 15°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 7 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 4 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
46 | 12 | 47 | 11 | 27 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 72 | 258 | 212 | 299 | 149 | 207 | 59 | 50 | 22 | 49 | 25 | 14 | 6 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 8:17AM3.93m | 8:32PM3.95m | 8:47AM3.69m | 9:03PM3.61m | 9:19AM3.43m | 9:39PM3.27m | 10:00AM3.17m | 10:32PM2.96m | 11:17AM2.94m | 00:57AM2.80m | 1:45PM2.94m | 2:34AM2.91m | 2:58PM3.13m | 3:30AM3.12m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:29PM0.29m | 2:53AM0.46m | 3:11PM0.62m | 3:34AM0.82m | 3:57PM0.97m | 4:20AM1.17m | 4:50PM1.29m | 5:17AM1.46m | 5:57PM1.52m | 6:29AM1.61m | 7:17PM1.56m | 7:49AM1.56m | 8:32PM1.40m | ||||||||
7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 27 | 28 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | W 11 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 4 |
46 | 2 | 47 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 72 | 258 | 212 | 299 | 149 | 207 | 59 | 50 | 22 | 49 | 25 | 14 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | WNW 6 | W 10 | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | W 12 | W 11 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 9 |
— | — | 7 | 11 | 1 | — | 3 | 8 | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | 3 | 9 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 11 | NW 4 | — | — | W 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 9 | 3 | — | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 7 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | NE 2 | NE 3 | NNE 3 | NE 3 |
— | 12 | — | — | 27 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 153 | 173 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 355 | 3 | 226 | 708 | 226 | 226 | 553 | 9 | 37 | 68 | 22 | 0 | 292 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 129 | 388 | 180 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Vendee | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











