
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, NNW swell with 56 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Le Petit Train this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Le Petit Train in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk surf for the next couple weeks, and I gotta be honest with you – it’s a rough stretch. The first real chance of a wave doesn't pop up until Wednesday, July 29th. That’s a long wait with nothing worth getting wet for.
Overall Pattern:
We are in a flat spell. Tiny, weak swells and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds are gonna be the theme for almost two weeks. There’s a little pulse of energy on the 29th, but nothing special. Water temp is sittin’ at 77°, which is over 9° warmer than it should be for this time of year – that’s very unusual, like warm bath water.
The Run Down:
From Wednesday, July 15th through to Tuesday, July 28th it’s a write-off. Swells are tiny, rarely cracking 2ft, and periods are short (around 5 seconds), so no punch. Winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making for chop and lumpy conditions. The energy values are low, mostly in the 20s and 30s (weak wave energy). There’s one little window on Sunday morning, July 19th, with glassy conditions and a 1ft NW swell (period 4 seconds), but it’s too weak to ride. Monday, July 20th, morning has a clean cross-offshore breeze on a 1ft NW swell (period 7 seconds) with an energy reading of 30 (weak) – a tiny ankle-snapper if you’re really keen.
The One to Watch:
The only spot that shows any glimmer is Le Petit Train, a beginner spot that’s inconsistent and exposed to the west. On Wednesday, July 29th, we finally see a bump. The morning session is the pick: a 3ft W groundswell, period 6 seconds, under glassy conditions. The wind will be dead calm, making for clean, peelable faces on the small swell. The combined energy is 80 (still weak, but the best of the whole run). It’s glassy, so it’ll be pretty. The downside? It’s an inconsistent break, and crowds are possible here. This swell direction matches the optimum W direction. After lunch, the wind swings NW cross-onshore and the quality drops straight away. The rest of July 30th is just more of the same cross-onshore messy stuff.
The Best of It:
The stand-out, and really the only window, is the morning of Wednesday, July 29th at Le Petit Train. It’s not a big swell at 3ft from the W, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be the cleanest wave we see. Just know it’s a beginner wave, inconsistent, and you might have company. Everything else, it’s flat and ugly. Honestly, for the kite surfers, the windy afternoons with stronger cross-onshore breezes (like the 22-25 mph stuff) are gonna be more interesting than paddling a surfboard. Forecasts can change, but right now, we’re starvin’.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sun night, min 20°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 9 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | W 8 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NW 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 15 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 42 | 14 | 37 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 10:58PM3.03m | 11:31AM2.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:30PM0.96m | 5:02AM1.05m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | |
— | 9:47 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:43 | 9:42 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 31 | 32 | 25 |
Feels °C | 23 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 26 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NW 4 | NW 5 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 5 | NW 5 | W 8 | NW 4 | NW 4 | W 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | W 12 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | WNW 11 | NNW 5 | WNW 10 |
17 | 9 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 8 | W 11 | W 8 | WNW 10 | NNW 6 |
1 | 15 | 14 | — | 3 | — | — | 12 | 5 | — | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 11 | — | W 13 | W 9 | W 12 | W 8 | — | — | — |
— | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | NNW 5 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | — | ENE 3 | N 5 | NE 3 | NNE 5 |
4 | — | — | 17 | 16 | 20 | 23 | — | — | 14 | — | — | 18 | 42 | 11 | 37 | — | 2 | 13 | 2 | 12 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 523 | 562 | 658 | 940 | 328 | 728 | 684 | 2101 | 581 | 1038 | 1145 | 463 | 502 | 56 | 111 | 226 | 56 | 76 | 684 | 56 | 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.











