Biarritz - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The heart of winter brings the largest and most consistent swell to Biarritz. With average wave heights between 1.3m and 1.8m and periods averaging 11-13 seconds, the North Atlantic delivers powerful, long period groundswells from the NW and WNW quadrants. A higher frequency of southerly to southwesterly winds, driven by passing low pressure systems, provides clean offshore conditions over 40% of the time in most months. This is when Biarritz truly fires, with classic A-frame peaks and long walls stacking up perfectly on the sandbanks.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These shoulder months offer a mix of smaller but still rideable swell, averaging 1.1-1.2m with periods around 10-11 seconds. The transition between seasons means more variable wind patterns. While the chance of perfect offshore conditions is lower (around 29%), windows of Southerly winds often coincide with fun sized waves from the NW. It is an excellent time for intermediate surfers to score uncrowded peaks with a good chance of clean shape under sunny skies.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer sees a dramatic drop in both swell energy and wind quality. Average wave heights hover around 0.9m with shorter periods of 9-10 seconds, dominated by local windswell and small NW background swell. The predominant winds shift onshore from the NW and NNW, ruining wave face quality. Ideal offshore winds from the south occur less than 20% of the time. While occasional small, fun-sized waves can be found for a longboard or fish, consistent quality surf is rare. It is a time for beach relaxation rather than chasing barrels.

January: Deep Winter Dominance

The North Atlantic is in full rage mode during January, with an average swell height of 1.8m and a powerful 13.0s period. Swell from the WNW (42.7%) and NW (29.3%) dominates, producing a high percentage of waves in the 1.5-2.5m range – truly pumping conditions by any standard. The wind is ideal 47% of the time, largely thanks to southerly and southwesterly flows (S, SSW, SW totaling over 27%) that blow clean offshore. When the Icelandic Low deepens and a high pressure ridge builds to the south, you get picture perfect glassy faces. However, when the wind turns onshore from the NW or WNW (around 12% combined), the wave quality drops quickly. January is prime time for experienced surfers looking to charge solid, lined-up waves.