Surf Conditions Combrit Today — Score 5.5/10 and Weather Analysis

Combrit is firing today with a solid 5.5/10 rating—a respectable mid-summer session that rewards early planners and patient line-up readers. We're looking at 1.04m of swell with a moderate 5.0-second period running through the day, generating that classic French Atlantic summer texture: rideable, textured, but not explosive. The real story here is the wind direction: a 21.2 km/h ONO (west-northwest) flow that's crucial to understanding your wave quality in the next few hours. Why the moderate score instead of stellar conditions? The short 5.0-second period tells us these aren't powerful, organized swells—they're choppy-sided runners with limited face development. Think wind-generated chop rather than distant groundswell. Add ONO wind pushing slightly onshore for Combrit's typical break geometry, and you've got a scenario where window timing becomes everything. The average swell across the day sits at 0.9m, meaning the 1.04m peak we're tracking is the highlight reel. This is a 'go now, don't wait' kind of day.

🕐 Best session windows

Your golden window opens at 14h00, when the score bumps to 3.5/10—which translates to 'most fun, cleanest faces, best shoulder definition' at Combrit. Why 14h00? By mid-afternoon, the ONO wind has had time to settle slightly, reducing its onshore push on the lineup. The tide cycle also favors this window: the break's sandbars and rock formations work best during mid-afternoon tidal movement in August. Before 10h00, expect wind chop dominance and confused closeout sections. After 17h00, the wind typically strengthens again, reintroducing that onshore texture. Bring a thick wetsuit and plan for 90 minutes of quality—this isn't an all-day affair.

📊 Detailed weather analysis

Combrit's exposure to the Atlantic fetch means it absorbs whatever the Bay of Biscay throws northeastward. Today's 1.04m swell is classic summer Atlantic energy: moderate in size but short-period, indicating it was generated by relatively recent wind systems, not distant storm cells. The 5.0-second period is the critical weakness here—compare this to autumn groundswell (10-14 second periods) and you understand why today feels 'fun but fleeting' rather than 'epic.' Short-period waves break faster, provide less face room, and generate that hollow-to-mushy transition that challenges technique. The ONO wind direction is marginally onshore for Combrit's northwest-facing aspect. This isn't catastrophic—the spot has enough protected zones and bankside geometry to maintain rideability—but it does explain why the 5.5/10 score caps out here instead of climbing to 6.5 or 7.0. A true offshore wind (from the southeast) would clean up wave faces and add 0.5-1.0 to the score instantly. Today, you're working with slight wind texture on the shoulders and occasional whitewash on closeouts. Experienced locals will navigate this; beginners may struggle with wave definition.

📍 About the spot

Combrit sits on Finistère's southern Atlantic flank, a geographic position that makes it tide-sensitive and wind-direction-conscious. The spot's bathymetry—the underwater topography—means it works best during specific tidal windows and benefits dramatically from offshore winds. Summer conditions here (August average swell 0.8-1.1m) are fundamentally different from autumn/winter patterns, when Atlantic storms generate 2-4m groundswell with 12+ second periods. The spot's sand and rock combinations create multiple break zones, which means today's modest swell can be spread across different peaks: some sections may hold 0.8m, others 1.2m. Spot knowledge—knowing which zone works at which tide—separates solid sessions from wasted paddle-outs.

📅 Week forecast

The week ahead shows a clear two-phase pattern. Today (Wednesday 19/08) and Thursday (20/08) hold steady at 5.5/10 with 1.1m swell—virtually identical conditions, suggesting the current wind and swell pattern will persist for 36 hours. Friday 21/08 is the week's peak: 6.1/10 score and 1.3m swell. This is your target session—swell size increases while period should lengthen slightly, cleaning up that ONO wind texture. However, the weekend deteriorates sharply: Saturday drops to 4.0/10 (0.8m swell), Sunday and Monday crater to 2.8-2.9/10 (0.6m). A high-pressure system is likely settling in, suppressing Atlantic fetch. The forecast reopens Tuesday 25/08 with a 5.0/10 recovery. Strategy: prioritize Friday if you can only paddle once; today and tomorrow are solid backup days; skip the weekend.

❓ FAQ

What time is best to surf at combrit today?

14h00 is your prime window, when the score reaches 3.5/10—the day's cleanest condition. Before 10h00, ONO wind chop dominates; after 17h00, wind strengthens again. Plan a focused 90-minute session between 13h45 and 15h15 for maximum rideability. Afternoon tide also favors Combrit's sandbar structure in August.

What is the surf score at combrit on 19/08/2026?

The daily score is 5.5/10—a solid mid-summer rating reflecting 1.04m swell with a short 5.0-second period. The peak window score is 3.5/10 at 14h00. The moderate score reflects wind texture (21.2 km/h ONO wind pushing slightly onshore) and short period energy. This is 'good fun' rather than 'go-large' conditions.

Are conditions improving this week at combrit?

Yes, then no. Friday 21/08 peaks at 6.1/10 with 1.3m swell—your best bet this week. Today and tomorrow are solid holding patterns at 5.5/10. However, a high-pressure system moves in Saturday through Monday, crushing conditions to 2.8-4.0/10. Brief recovery on Tuesday 25/08 (5.0/10). Recommendation: push hard for Friday if possible; use today as a warm-up; skip the weekend.