Biarritz seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (October - March)
Biarritz's surf year is built around the North Atlantic storm track. From October through March, the Azores High drifts south and a train of extratropical cyclones forms off the U.S. East Coast, sending long-period WNW/NW groundswell directly into the Bay of Biscay. Average swell heights run 4-6ft (1.3-1.8m), with periods of 11-13 seconds, and frequent southerly to south-westerly offshore flow keeps the famous beach and reef peaks clean. December is the statistical peak, with ideal surf winds 51 percent of the time.
Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)
April and May see the Atlantic slowly powering down: average heights fall to 3-4ft (1.0-1.2m), periods shorten, and the wind field acquires a W/NW bias. Still, the swell direction remains excellent, and dawn patrols often find clean, rippable waves before the sea breeze kicks in. September is the swing month back toward winter, with more consistent groundswell and water temperatures still warm.
Low Surf Season (June - August)
Summer is the quiet season in Biarritz. The storm track retreats north, the Azores High builds, and average wave heights bottom out around 3ft (0.9m) with periods of 9.0-9.4 seconds. The swell direction is still dominated by NW, but the energy is mostly short-period windswell. Daily thermal winds blow from WNW/NNW, limiting quality. It is a great time for longboarding and swims in 22°C water, but not for serious hollow surf.