
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, WNW swell with 1,042 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Le Petit Train in the next 16 days are 1.7m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right now the surf at Le Petit Train is pretty much dead. We’re scraping the bottom of the barrel – weak, short-period swell and winds that just won’t give us a break. Most of this stretch is either too small or too chopped up to waste your time. Water’s at 74°F, which is nearly 3°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a big deal around here.
Wednesday the 16th is a washout – 1.2m at 7 seconds, cross-shore breeze, energy at 210. Nothing to work with. Thursday and Friday are a little bigger – 1-1.4m – but the period’s still short and the wind’s messing it up. You’d be fighting chop all session.
Then Saturday morning the 19th, the stars line up. Glassy – 5 km/h northeast wind – and the swell holds at 1.4m with a 13-second period. Energy jumps to 669. That’s the clear standout of the whole two weeks. It’s not big, but it’s clean, and that long-period groundswell will have some real push. Sunday and Monday mornings are okay too – light cross-off winds, 1.3m at 11 seconds, energy in the 379 range. But Saturday is the one.
After that, it fades hard. Tuesday the 22nd is down to 0.8m, and then we hit a proper dead stretch from the 23rd through the 27th. There’s a tiny pulse on the 23rd with a 16-second period, but it’s only 0.9m and the wind is on it. By the 26th, we’re looking at 0.7m and energy down to 86. Sunday the 27th is the absolute worst – 0.4m at 8 seconds. That’s a puddle. That’s a solid five-day gap of nothing worth paddling for.
Then a bit of life comes back on Monday the 28th – 1.0m at 12 seconds, energy back up to 348-591, but it’s onshore and choppy. Tuesday the 29th is better – 1.4m at 12 seconds, light cross-shore early, energy at 628. Still marginal, but surfable.
Then it gets bigger, and uglier. Wednesday the 30th builds to 2.1m in the afternoon, and Thursday the 1st of October is pushing 2.2m at 11 seconds. But the wind is cross-onshore the whole time, and it’s going to be a mess. There’s a lot of energy – 1107 on Thursday morning – but it won’t be clean. That’s more of a stormy slop than a surf. At that size with that wind, you might as well rig up the kite. It’s not a paddle surfer’s wave.
So, to sum it up: Saturday morning the 19th is your window. Glassy, clean, 1.4m from the WNW. That’s the pick of the fortnight. Sunday and Monday mornings are backups. Everything else is either flat, blown out, or too rough to enjoy. The big swell at the start of October has power, but it won’t be surfable with that wind. It’s a waiting game, and that Saturday is the one to hit.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed night, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon night, min 15°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
138 | 305 | 353 | 460 | 372 | 223 | 212 | 958 | 936 | 669 | 510 | 421 | 379 | 340 | 328 | 379 | 329 | 247 | 196 | 148 | 163 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:10AM3.38m | 8:30PM3.19m | 8:44AM3.13m | 9:08PM2.88m | 9:26AM2.86m | 10:03PM2.61m | 10:35AM2.64m | 11:42PM2.44m | 12:30PM2.57m | 1:35AM2.50m | 2:01PM2.73m | 2:39AM2.71m | 2:54PM2.99m | 3:21AM2.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:18PM0.65m | 2:35AM0.87m | 3:00PM0.95m | 3:17AM1.18m | 3:52PM1.25m | 4:15AM1.44m | 5:08PM1.47m | 5:43AM1.58m | 6:50PM1.48m | 7:21AM1.49m | 8:09PM1.29m | 8:26AM1.26m | 9:00PM1.01m | ||||||||
7:43 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | |
— | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 28 | 29 | 20 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 27 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 |
138 | 305 | 353 | 460 | 372 | 223 | 212 | 958 | 936 | 669 | 510 | 421 | 379 | 340 | 328 | 379 | 329 | 247 | 196 | 148 | 135 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | — | WNW 12 | — | — | — | WNW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | W 21 | W 18 |
72 | — | 86 | — | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 163 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | N 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 16 | 10 | 5 | 12 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 147 | 22 | 76 | 147 | 87 | 102 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 29 | 0 | 182 | 30 | 0 | 102 | 22 | 22 | 153 | 8 |
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.










