Lac de Montbel kitesurf spot

France · Occitanie

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 397 m 42.98 | 1.95

Overview

Kitesurf spot on Lac de Montbel (09/11), a 550 ha reservoir lake at the foot of the Pyrenees in Ariège, at 397 m altitude, on the passage of the Tramontane and Autan winds. Very quiet spot, little frequented. Good fallback option when the Tramontane is too strong at Leucate or the Autan too violent on Lac de la Ganguise. Supervised swimming beach in summer (Montbel side). The lake is primarily agricultural — water level drops significantly in autumn. Community: KT31 (Kitesurfeurs Toulousains mailing list). Station météo: Léran / Lac de Montbel (Windfinder).

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Spot forecast for Lac de Montbel

Sunrise 08:11 · Sunset 19:02

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Lac de Montbel: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

208h

in April · 21 rideable days

The season runs from March to May, peaking in April: 18 rideable days a month and 208 hours of usable wind, at 16 °C. The low point is January, at 8 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 8 rideable days8 d J February: 11 rideable days F March: 19.5 rideable days M April: 21 rideable days21 d A May: 14 rideable days M June: 9 rideable days J July: 12 rideable days J August: 10 rideable days A September: 14 rideable days S October: 10.5 rideable days O November: 12 rideable days N December: 11 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 8 rideable days8 d J February: 11 rideable days F March: 19.5 rideable days M April: 21 rideable days21 d A May: 14 rideable days M June: 9 rideable days J July: 12 rideable days J August: 10 rideable days A September: 14 rideable days S October: 10.5 rideable days O November: 12 rideable days N December: 11 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 91%13-20 knots · 9%21-30 knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 91% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 10 °C. The wettest month is November, with 78 mm.

Monthly averages: Lac de Montbel
Monthly averages — Lac de Montbel — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 8.0 59 h 10 °C 34 mm
February 11.0 74 h 12 °C 58 mm
March 19.5 158 h 14 °C 65 mm
April 21.0 208 h 16 °C 38 mm
May 14.0 129 h 18 °C 67 mm
June 9.0 61 h 25 °C 24 mm
July 12.0 107 h 26 °C 35 mm
August 10.0 70 h 27 °C 18 mm
September 14.0 104 h 20 °C 39 mm
October 10.5 69 h 18 °C 57 mm
November 12.0 83 h 13 °C 78 mm
December 11.0 74 h 10 °C 68 mm

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Technical details of Lac de Montbel spot

N: Depending on conditions NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Depending on conditions E: Depending on conditions ESE: Depending on conditions SE: Depending on conditions SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Depending on conditions NW: Rideable NNW: Depending on conditions N E S W

The spot works with winds from NW.

Depending on conditions: N, ENE, E, ESE, SE, WNW, NNW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
Wind specificities

Located on the Tramontane and Autan corridor. NW Tramontane is the main productive direction — strong, often violent on this exposed lake. SE/E Autan also works but tends to be gusty. The spot acts as a buffer: it handles conditions that would be too extreme at Leucate (Tramontane) or Ganguise (Autan). Wind is technical here — experienced riders recommended.

Hazards

Variable lake level — when high, the launch zone is reduced to a narrow grass strip requiring an assisted launch (autonomous takeoff impossible). Many submerged stumps throughout the lake — watch underfoot and when navigating. Wind can be extremely strong (violent gusts reported). Only 3 access points when the lake is at maximum level. Keep clear of fishing nets and fishing areas.

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LERAN2.6 kmsource meteofrance

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Additional stations

  • EW7307 Laran FR2.8 km

    Readings reserved for Premium members

    source madis - NOAA

  • BELESTA8.6 km

    Readings reserved for Premium members

    source meteofrance

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All spots: Occitanie

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