Best time to surf Seignosse – Les Estagnots

The best time to surf at Seignosse – Les Estagnots is January–February, November, with waves of about 2.1 m and water around 14°C.

Seignosse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Landes), France

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: January–February, November

Les Estagnots is a beach in Seignosse, on the straight, dune-backed coast of the Landes just north of Hossegor in south-west France. Like its neighbours Le Penon and Les Bourdaines, it faces west into the Bay of Biscay and receives Atlantic swells with little loss of power, which the sandbanks shape into fast, often hollow peaks. It has hosted international surfing contests.

West and north-west groundswells work best, and easterly and south-easterly winds are offshore, most often in the mornings in autumn, the classic season. Spring can also be good, while summer usually brings smaller waves and lifeguarded swimming zones. The banks move after storms, so the best peaks change. The waves are heavy for a beach break, with strong shorebreak and rips between the banks, so it suits confident intermediate and advanced surfers. The line-up is crowded on good days. The water is about 12 to 13 °C in winter and 21 to 22 °C in late summer, so a 4/3 is usual from late autumn to spring.

Month by month at Seignosse – Les Estagnots

January: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 13°C, air 12°C (nights 5°C), 17 sunny days, 14 rainy days
February: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 13°C, air 14°C (nights 6°C), 19 sunny days, 12 rainy days
March: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 8°C), 24 sunny days, 14 rainy days
April: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 10°C), 24 sunny days, 14 rainy days
May: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 17°C, air 21°C (nights 13°C), 29 sunny days, 14 rainy days
June: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1 m, water 21°C, air 25°C (nights 17°C), 27 sunny days, 11 rainy days
July: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1 m, water 23°C, air 26°C (nights 18°C), 29 sunny days, 8 rainy days
August: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 24°C, air 27°C (nights 19°C), 30 sunny days, 9 rainy days
September: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 22°C, air 25°C (nights 16°C), 26 sunny days, 12 rainy days
October: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 14°C), 22 sunny days, 12 rainy days
November: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 9°C), 18 sunny days, 15 rainy days
December: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 15°C, air 13°C (nights 7°C), 15 sunny days, 15 rainy days