Montalivet is firing this morning with a solid 7.7/10 score and consistent Atlantic swell. Today's conditions are shaped by a 2.18-meter swell with an impressive 11.95-second period — this long-interval fetch delivers powerful, well-organized wave sets rather than choppy, closeout conditions. The ONO (north-northwest) wind at 9.7 km/h is working in our favor, providing offshore breeze that will groom the faces and hold the peaks clean throughout the morning session. This is textbook autumn Atlantic swell: meaty enough for committed surfers, with enough period to generate genuine wave quality. Today represents the peak of a three-day run before conditions ease mid-week, then spike again around Wednesday 28th. If you're planning a dawn patrol, the 07h00 window is your golden ticket — this is when tide position and wind direction align perfectly to unlock the spot's full rideability potential. The 2.3-meter average swell across the day means consistency is guaranteed, but that early window captures the cleanest faces before any wind shift or tide change degrades shape.
Your money window opens at 07h00 and maintains the 7.7/10 score through the early morning. This timing is crucial: the ONO offshore is strongest at dawn, the tide is positioned to create optimal sandbank shape at Montalivet, and the swell trains are most organized before the Atlantic chop builds. By mid-morning (10h00+), slight wind rotation and tide transit will erode that offshore advantage, pushing the score down to 6.5–7.0 range. If you can't make dawn patrol, your backup is the late afternoon slot around 16h00–18h00, but don't expect the same polish. The 2.18m primary swell won't diminish today, but wind consistency and tide mechanics are the real score-shifters.
The 11.95-second period is the star player here. This extended interval means swell lines are spaced properly, with enough energy transfer to create rideable walls rather than washing closeouts. Long-period Atlantic swells typically originate from deep low-pressure systems 1000+ kilometers out, and by the time they reach the Gironde coast, they've sorted into clean, predictable sets. Montalivet's exposure to west-southwest swell directions means this 2.18m fetch is hitting the break at an angle that maximizes wave organization — not shore-dumping, not too refracted. The ONO wind is textbook offshore for this stretch of coast. North-northwest winds blow from the land out to sea, compressing wave faces, holding peaks steep, and preventing wind chop from degrading the shoulder. At only 9.7 km/h, it's light enough to avoid over-grooming (which can make waves dead and sluggish) but strong enough to provide real surface quality. This is the perfect offshore intensity for a 2.18m swell — enough support to maintain shape, not so strong that it creates disorganized texture.
Montalivet sits on the Gironde coast with direct exposure to Atlantic swells and a sensitive response to wind direction. The break's sandbars create shape-shifting peaks that reward offshore wind and punish onshore compression. Today's conditions suit the spot's autumn character: moderate swell height (not maxed-out, not weak), long period (the sandbanks need time to sort waves into defined sections), and clean wind (essential for Montalivet, which can turn chaotic quickly if onshore influence takes hold). The spot's orientation means that west and west-southwest swells produce the most consistent quality, and today's fetch aligns perfectly with this preference.
The next seven days show a W-shaped pattern: today's 7.7/10 holds through Saturday, dips to 6.9/10 Sunday through Tuesday (reduced swell height to 1.8–2.0m, still rideable but smaller), then spikes to 8.1/10 Wednesday 28th and 8.0/10 Thursday 29th before collapsing to 4.8/10 Friday. Recommendations: session today if possible (7.7 is premium for this coast), skip Sunday–Tuesday unless you're chasing smaller waves and learning-focused days, then block your calendar hard for Wednesday–Thursday — 8.0+ scores with long-period swell are rare gifts. The Friday collapse suggests a wind shift or swell decay, making it a rest day or time to explore sheltered alternatives.
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Sign in for free →07h00 is your optimal window with a 7.7/10 score. This is when the ONO offshore wind is strongest, tide position maximizes sandbank shape, and swell organization peaks. The conditions remain solid through mid-morning, but deteriorate after 10h00 as wind and tide lose their favorable alignment. A secondary window exists around 16h00–18h00 if morning is impossible, though expect a lower score.
The score is 7.7/10 at peak (07h00) with an average of 6.5–7.0 through the day. This score reflects a 2.18m swell, 11.95-second period (long and organized), 9.7 km/h ONO wind (clean offshore), and optimal tide timing. Translated: powerful, well-shaped waves with minimal chop — premium autumn Atlantic conditions.
Yes and no. Today and Saturday hold at 7.7/10 and 6.9/10 respectively, then ease through mid-week to 6.9/10 as swell shrinks to 1.8–2.0m. However, Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th deliver exceptional 8.1/10 and 8.0/10 scores — better than today — suggesting a new swell energy arrival. Friday collapses to 4.8/10. Strategy: session today, rest/train Sunday–Tuesday, go hard Wednesday–Thursday.
Hourly score, swell, wind and tide — updated every 3 hours
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