
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NW swell with 42 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with NNW 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 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for Le Petit Train is a real test of patience. We’re looking at a long, lean stretch ahead, so don’t be in a rush.
The first couple of weeks are pretty grim. From the 14th right through to the morning of the 24th, it’s mostly tiny, weak dribble with poor conditions. The swell is barely there, often knee-high or less, and the wind is a mess – mostly cross-onshore or onshore, which just chops everything up. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 19th where it’s clean with a light cross-off breeze, but the swell is still only 2ft from the NNW, so it’s not really doing anything worthwhile. The whole pattern is one of those frustrating blank spells where you’re better off waiting.
Now, things finally start to get interesting around the 24th. The morning of Friday the 24th brings a modest jump to 3ft from the west with an 8-second period, and the energy finally breaks into triple digits at 202. The wind is light and offshore from the ENE, so it’ll be clean. That’s a sign of life, but it’s still not the standout.
The real standout, and the only one worth marking on the calendar, is the morning of Saturday the 25th. This is a proper injection of swell. We’re looking at 7ft from the west with a 10-second period, and the combined energy shoots up to 882 – that’s a solid, powerful pulse. The wind is glassy, dead calm, so the surface will be silky smooth. This is a day for experienced surfers, as that 7ft is getting into the meaty range, and the west swell aligns nicely with the break’s optimum. The water temperature is a very unusual 77°, which is 9° warmer than normal – bizarrely warm for this time of year.
The energy holds through the 26th and into the 27th, with waves around 4ft to 5ft, but the wind turns onshore or cross-on after that Saturday morning, so the quality drops off quickly. The morning of the 26th is glassy again with 4ft from the WNW, so that’s a worthwhile backup session if you missed the 25th.
Bottom line: There’s a long dry spell, then a very promising window on the morning of the 25th with a clean, solid west swell. That’s your one true shot at something special. After that, it starts to get messy again.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 35°C on Sun night, min 21°C on Fri afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | WNW 8 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | N 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 42 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 27 | 19 | 16 | 32 | 42 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:26PM4.03m | 5:57AM3.82m | 6:15PM4.16m | 6:45AM3.84m | 7:02PM4.18m | 7:31AM3.77m | 7:48PM4.08m | 8:15AM3.63m | 8:33PM3.89m | 9:00AM3.45m | 9:18PM3.61m | 9:45AM3.24m | 10:06PM3.31m | 10:34AM3.04m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:38AM0.27m | 2:50PM0.47m | 3:23AM0.53m | 3:38PM0.71m | 4:10AM0.80m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | |
— | 9:49 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | 9:43 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 26 | 33 | 35 | 26 | 33 | 33 | 26 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 5 | NW 5 | W 8 | NW 5 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 5 | NW 5 | W 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | WNW 8 | N 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 9 | N 5 |
2 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 42 | 23 | 13 | 22 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 5 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 8 | W 7 | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 6 | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 4 | NW 6 | W 8 | W 11 |
11 | 1 | 1 | — | 15 | 14 | — | 12 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | — | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 12 | W 8 |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | NW 5 | — | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | NNW 5 | ENE 3 | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | ENE 3 |
4 | 12 | 11 | 17 | — | — | 23 | — | 18 | 27 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 11 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 625 | 414 | 414 | 523 | 56 | 414 | 696 | 526 | 463 | 687 | 912 | 911 | 696 | 32 | 56 | 309 | 56 | 175 | 175 | 111 | 56 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gironde | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











