Best time to kitesurf Carnon – Petit Travers

The best time to kitesurf at Carnon – Petit Travers is March–May, September–November, with about 7 windy days a month (15+ knots) and water around 17°C.

Carnon, Occitanie, France

Sports: Kitesurfing, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing

Best time to go: March–May, September–November

Carnon-Plage is the seaside part of Mauguio, about 15 minutes south-east of Montpellier and a few minutes from the airport and from Pérols. East of the port, the Petit Travers and Grand Travers beaches run for several kilometres of sand towards La Grande-Motte, with car parks behind the dunes; west of the harbour wall is Les Roquilles. Petit Travers has the area's best-known kite zone, and schools in Pérols and Carnon teach kite, wing and foil, some taking students by boat to the day's best spot.

The usual riding winds are the south-westerly sea breeze and westerlies, which blow along the coast, and the Marin, a south-easterly from the sea that is onshore and turbulent; a strong south-easterly builds a big shore break. The Mistral and the Tramontane blow from the north-west and north, offshore on this beach: the water is flat but you are pushed out to sea, so it is for experienced riders only, with someone watching from the beach. Montpellier airport's weather station, 4.5 km away, records 15 knots or more on about four days in ten in March and April and two in ten or fewer in June to August; the water is mostly choppy, with waves in onshore wind.

From about mid-June to mid-September kiting is banned on the busy town beaches (Les Roquilles included); outside the marked kite zone keep well away from swimmers, and check the signs at the beach or ask a school, as the zones can change. The water is about 12 °C in February and 24 °C in August: a 5/4 with boots in winter, a 4/3 in spring and late autumn, a 3/2 in June and September.

Month by month at Carnon – Petit Travers

January: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 12°C, air 12°C (nights 4°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 21 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
February: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 12°C, air 14°C (nights 6°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 21 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 8; a day can have both
March: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 8°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 23 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
April: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 15°C, air 19°C (nights 10°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 6; a day can have both
May: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 18°C, air 23°C (nights 14°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 8; a day can have both
June: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 22°C, air 28°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 5; a day can have both
July: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 24°C, air 31°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 3; a day can have both
August: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 24°C, air 31°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 4; a day can have both
September: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 22°C, air 26°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 7; a day can have both
October: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 14°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 24 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 11; a day can have both
November: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 17°C, air 16°C (nights 9°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 24 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
December: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 13°C, air 13°C (nights 6°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 20 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both