
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, WNW swell with 86 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with NW 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Le Petit Train in the next 16 days are 0.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) 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 0.3m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s size up the local surf scene for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, this is a bleak run for Le Petit Train. The whole 16-day window is a struggle, with almost no decent surf and poor conditions ruining the small swells that do show up. It’s one of those stretches where you’re better off checking the forecast again later, because right now, it’s a paddling workout, not a surf session.
The best on offer is a very brief window on Friday morning, August 7th. We’ve got a tiny 3 ft swell from the NW with a period of just 6 seconds – that’s weak, short-period windswell, and the combined energy is a feeble 46. The water is a very unusual 75°, which is a massive 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. The saving grace is a light 3 mph cross-offshore wind from the NE, keeping the surface clean. It’s surfable, but only just, and it’s for beginners. Crowds are possible here.
After that, it’s a total write-off for a solid week. From Friday afternoon right through to Wednesday, August 12th, the wind is a mess – mostly onshore or cross-onshore from the NW, gusting up to 19 mph, with the swell dropping to 1 ft to 2 ft. The only glimmer is a few glassy mornings, like Monday, August 10th and Tuesday, August 11th, but the swell is barely a ripple and the combined energy is in the 30s. These are lake-calm, not surfable.
Things get a little more interesting but still frustrating from Thursday, August 13th onwards. The swell builds slowly, hitting 2 ft on Friday, August 14th with a combined energy of 119 (moderate), but the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore. The period stretches to 11 seconds on Wednesday, August 12th, which hints at better shape, but the wind shreds it.
The biggest push comes on Monday, August 17th, with a 4 ft swell from the WNW and a combined energy of 144, but it’s all onshore wind at 12 to 16 mph, making it a complete mess. That’s a consistent trend: the swell gets bigger, but the wind gets worse.
The most notable swell of the whole forecast arrives on Saturday, August 22nd, with a 4 ft to 4 ft swell from the WNW, a period of 10 seconds, and a combined energy of 304 to 360 (strong). But, once again, the wind is a howling 22 mph onshore from the WNW. That’s kite-surfing territory, not for paddle boards.
The only other morning that’s worth a mention is Friday, August 21st, with a 3 ft swell from the WNW, a 9-second period, and a light 3 mph cross-offshore wind from the SSW that keeps it clean. The combined energy is 161 (moderate), but the quality is still just “surfable but ordinary.” The rest of the time it’s onshore junk.
Honestly, if you’re desperate, the Friday morning, August 7th window is the only one that’s clean. The rest of the run is a lesson in patience. Forecasts can change, but this one’s a tough one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat night, min 19°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat night, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue night, min 21°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 4 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 46 | 28 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 40 | 38 | 34 | 32 | 40 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 35 | 61 | 56 | 57 | 40 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | off | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 11:38AM2.99m | 00:23AM2.97m | 1:06PM3.02m | 1:54AM3.03m | 2:28PM3.22m | 3:10AM3.24m | 3:34PM3.53m | 4:09AM3.49m | 4:28PM3.84m | 4:59AM3.71m | 5:16PM4.09m | 5:44AM3.85m | 6:00PM4.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:52PM1.02m | 6:33AM1.07m | 7:18PM0.96m | 7:54AM0.98m | 8:37PM0.74m | 9:03AM0.75m | 9:40PM0.44m | 10:00AM0.48m | 10:33PM0.16m | 10:49AM0.23m | 11:20PM-0.05m | 11:33AM0.06m | 00:04AM-0.14m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | W 10 | NW 5 | NW 5 | W 9 | NW 4 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
39 | 7 | 28 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 40 | 38 | 34 | 32 | 40 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 61 | 56 | 57 | 40 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | NNE 5 | W 9 | W 13 | WNW 11 | NW 4 | W 6 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | W 7 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | W 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | W 6 | — | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 |
7 | — | 4 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 15 | 1 | — | 13 | 12 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 9 | W 7 | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 10 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | WNW 12 |
— | — | 7 | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 8 | 22 | — | — | — | — | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 6 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | NW 8 | NW 4 | — | — | — |
— | 46 | — | — | 8 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 20 | 8 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 581 | 21 | 463 | 392 | 165 | 64 | 401 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 70 | 8 | 265 | 155 | 155 | 192 | 165 | 0 | 412 | 129 |
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.











