
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, WNW swell with 123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Le Petit Train this week:
The surf forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Le Petit Train in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, it’s a pretty quiet start. For the first week or so, there’s just not much to get excited about. The surf that does show up is small, weak, and often messy. The standout window is a long way off, nearly two weeks away, so we’ve got a real dry spell to sit through first.
The only spot on the radar is Le Petit Train. It’s a beginner-friendly, inconsistent little wave that can work when the conditions line up, but for most of this run, it’s just not happening. Through Sunday the 12th, you’ve got tiny 2ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is off or cross-off, so it’s clean. The wave energy is weak (51), and the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’s not going to be punchy. Still, for a beginner who just wants to sit on a board, Sunday morning with the offshore breeze is the only half-decent window in the early days.
From Monday the 13th through to the 19th, it’s a wasteland. The swell drops to knee-high or less, winds are all over the place – mostly onshore or cross-onshore – and the wave energy is pitiful. There’s a morning of glass on Tuesday the 14th, but with only 0.7ft of swell, it’s a flat calm. You’ll be floating, not surfing. This stretch is a write-off.
Now, the real story is the swell that’s building for the second week. On Monday the 20th of July, the surf finally starts to show some life. The morning brings a clean 5ft WNW swell with a light cross-off breeze, and the energy jumps to moderate (257). Tuesday the 21st of July morning is the clear standout. We’re looking at a solid 8ft WNW swell, a long 9-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the east. The energy is strong (840). This is proper surf. Be aware, 8ft is getting into expert territory, so this isn’t for the groms. The wave direction is a touch west of the optimum, but with that kind of size and clean wind, it’s the best on offer.
Wednesday the 22nd of July morning is also worth a mention, with a glassy 5ft swell and good energy (378), but the wind shifts onshore by the afternoon. After that, it tails off again through the end of the month, with smaller, choppier conditions.
So, to sum it up: you’re waiting. The first week is a total dud. The best window is the morning of Tuesday the 21st of July, with that 8ft of clean, offshore WNW swell. The morning of Monday the 20th and Wednesday the 22nd are solid second choices. For the rest, it’s not worth paddling out.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on that Tuesday morning.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 37°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sun night, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue night, min 21°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Sat 18 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 5 | W 9 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
78 | 50 | 45 | 81 | 115 | 56 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 45 | 51 | 35 | 23 | 14 | 16 | 38 | 19 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | on | cross | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:10AM3.38m | 3:37PM3.56m | 4:11AM3.57m | 4:34PM3.81m | 5:06AM3.73m | 5:26PM4.03m | 5:57AM3.82m | 6:15PM4.16m | 6:45AM3.84m | 7:02PM4.18m | 7:31AM3.77m | 7:48PM4.08m | 8:15AM3.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:42PM0.64m | 9:10AM0.61m | 9:44PM0.39m | 10:07AM0.42m | 10:40PM0.16m | 10:59AM0.25m | 11:32PM-0.02m | 11:48AM0.13m | 00:21AM-0.10m | 12:34PM0.09m | 1:08AM-0.07m | 1:20PM0.13m | 1:53AM0.06m | 2:05PM0.27m | |||||||
— | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | |
9:50 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:49 | — | — | 9:49 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | 9:45 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 37 | 34 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 36 | 31 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 7 | W 5 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 |
78 | 50 | 45 | — | 115 | 56 | 21 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 21 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | WNW 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 8 | W 6 | — |
3 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 2 | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 4 |
— | 1 | — | 81 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | 16 | 21 | 45 | 51 | 35 | 23 | 10 | 16 | 38 | 19 | 23 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 126 | 184 | 392 | 455 | 604 | 463 | 523 | 413 | 192 | 439 | 657 | 562 | 658 | 943 | 943 | 56 | 413 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gironde | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Le Petit Train Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Le Petit Train provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Le Petit Train can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Le Petit Train surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Le Petit Train) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Le Petit Train may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Le Petit Train is 8 km (5 miles) from Arcachon. If you plan a holiday in Gironde, look for hotels and other accommodation in Arcachon. Arcachon has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











