Conditions at Capbreton in September
September: The First Swell of the New Season
September is the quiet beginning of the transition back to winter surf. The averages remain modest-swell height 3-4ft (1.1m) and period 10.6s-but the increasing number of 11-14s pulses hints at what is coming. The swell direction is still heavily concentrated in the WNW and NW sectors, which together account for about 87% of all observations; NW dominates at 53.8%, but the WNW component carries more 1-2.5m waves than in summer. In fact, the distribution has more spread: 0.5-1m is about 40%, 1-1.5m is near 30%, and the 1.5-2.5m categories add a bit more than 10%. This is right on the edge of good, rippable surf-especially when an early-season Atlantic low sends a clean groundswell into the Bay of Biscay. Wind quality also improves, with ideal surfing wind at 27%. The sea breeze is weakening, and light offshore/easterly spells in the morning are more reliable. Still, the onshore sector from W/NW/NNW remains significant at around 37% of the wind rose, so patience is needed. Water temperature is still warm at 20.8°C, air temperatures average 18.9°C, and rain remains moderate. September is a month to start checking the forecasts again.
Average Spot conditions at Capbreton in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Capbreton during September. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Capbreton for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Capbreton for September. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Capbreton.