Carnon - surf spot statistics

Carnon, France, offers varying surf conditions throughout the year, with the best months for surfers typically being autumn and winter when swell activity is more consistent and wind conditions, though often challenging, occasionally align favorably. From November to February, the swell size averages around 1.0m, with ground swell percentages peaking at 20-25%, providing the most reliable waves. However, wind conditions are generally poor during this period, with good winds occurring only 10-14% of the time, meaning offshore or light winds are rare. The highest likelihood of ground swell occurs in January and February, but the majority of days still experience wind swell or no swell at all. Spring and summer (April to August) see smaller swells (0.6-0.8m) and an increased frequency of wind swell, making conditions less ideal. September and October bring a slight improvement with rising ground swell percentages and manageable swell sizes (0.6-0.8m), though wind conditions remain suboptimal. Overall, the best windows for surfing Carnon are late autumn (October-November) and early winter (December-February) when swell energy is higher, but surfers should be prepared for frequent onshore winds. The summer months are generally poor due to small swells and inconsistent conditions, making them less suitable for advanced surfers. For the most promising sessions, target days in the colder months with the rare combination of ground swell and favorable winds.

August in Carnon, France, offers generally small and mellow surf conditions with an average swell height of 0.6m and a modest 5.0s period, making it better suited for beginners or longboarders rather than high-performance surfing. The swell is predominantly from the S and SSW directions, contributing to the majority of rideable waves, though they rarely exceed 1.5m. The NW and WNW swells bring slightly larger waves, occasionally reaching 2.5m, but these make up a smaller percentage of the conditions. Wind is often the limiting factor, with only 17% of days providing ideal offshore (NE to E) or light cross-shore winds. Stronger onshore winds from the W and NW are more common, which can chop up the surf. For experienced surfers, patience and timing will be key—early mornings or rare days with cleaner wind conditions may offer some fun, small waves, but don’t expect consistent power or size.