Explore / France

Biarritz.

Now

  · updated 15 hours ago
swell
1.4m
10s
wind
1 kt
northeast
tide
3.28 m
falling
N E S W
▬ swell – wind
43.50, -1.80
Next days outlook
beta

WNW swell builds from 1-2m at 9-10 seconds Wednesday to a week peak of 2-3m at 10-12 seconds Thursday under light to moderate southwest to west-northwest wind, with wind-sea heavy indicating strong wind influence. The swell eases to 1-2m Friday and holds through the weekend under light variable wind, before a fresh northwest pulse at 10-17 seconds arrives next Thursday under light to strong west-southwest to west wind, marking the second weekly peak. Looks like Thursday dawn under glassy conditions will be the best window.

Swell height

<7s
7–11s
11–13s
13–15s
15–18s
18+s

 

Wave systems

  • primary
  • secondary
  • tertiary
  • wind sea

 

Power

small
solid / average
energetic
heavy

 

Wind speed

light
moderate
strong
blown out

 

Tide

 

Weather

 

Nearby regions

About Biarritz

Biarritz is the south-west coast resort of France, 30 km from the Spanish border, and the cradle of European surfing. La Côte des Basques, the long beach south of the casino, is where Peter Viertel paddled out a Californian board in 1956 and Europe followed. Grande Plage is the town beach. Anglet, just north, is a long strip of beach breaks (Les Cavaliers, Marinella). Guéthary, the next village south, holds the big-wave reef Parlementia and the slab Avalanche.

The west to north-west Atlantic swell runs year-round, with September through November the peak. Working size is 0.5 to 3 m, classic at 12 s or longer. East wind, the continental land breeze, is offshore; west to north-west wind breaks it down. The Côte des Basques cliff shelters from north-west onshore when nothing else does. Anglet wants size and a clean east. Parlementia turns on at 2 m and up.

Water runs 12 °C at the March low and 20 to 25 °C by August. A 4/3 with boots covers winter, a 3/2 spring and autumn, a springsuit or boardies summer. The Côte des Basques at low tide is the longboard scene; Anglet’s beach breaks pack out by lunch in August. The reefs and points are stricter on takeoff order. Autumn is the season: clean swell, smaller crowds, water still warm.

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