
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with 105 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the coming weeks. Straight up, this isn’t a vintage run. The surf is small and the conditions are messy for most of the period, so you’ll need to be patient and pick your moments. There are a few brief windows where it cleans up, but nothing to get overly excited about. The water temperature is sitting at 75°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s notable, you’ll be in boardies for sure.
The first real chance to paddle out is Friday morning, August 7th, at Le Petit Train. Swell is tiny, just 2ft from the NW with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy is weak (49). But the wind is dead calm, glassy conditions. That’s the big positive here – it’ll be clean and smooth, even if the waves are small and weak. It’s a beginner-friendly spot anyway, so for a learner or someone wanting a mellow paddle, this is your best bet. The crowd factor is “sometimes” so you might have company, but nothing crazy. The water will feel like a warm bath.
Saturday morning August 8th is clean too, with a light cross-off breeze, but the swell drops right off to 0.7ft – barely a ripple. Not worth the effort.
Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th stay small and the wind turns cross-onshore or onshore, so it gets choppy or blown out. There’s a moment Monday morning, August 10th, with glassy conditions again and a 2ft NW swell, but it’s still weak and ordinary.
Tuesday morning August 11th is another glassy window – 2ft from the WNW, period 9 seconds, combined energy 57. Clean, but again, small. If you’re desperate for a surf, that’s your next go.
After that, we hit a dry spell. From Tuesday afternoon through to the end of the outlook, it’s mostly onshore, cross-onshore, or just plain choppy with poor surf conditions. The swell does pick up a bit around August 14th–15th, with heights hitting 3ft to 4ft and combined energy getting into the low 100s, but the wind is a problem – strong cross-onshore breezes from the NNW at 12-19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. Not a pleasant session.
In the second week, nothing really turns the corner. August 18th morning sees a small bump with 3ft from the WNW, period 9 seconds, and energy hitting 138 – the highest of the run – but the wind is light cross-onshore, and the forecast just says “poor surf conditions.” It’s close but no cigar.
Bottom line: if you’re a beginner or just want a quiet, clean paddle, Friday morning August 7th and Tuesday morning August 11th are your standouts. For anyone else, this is a waiting game. The setup is more kite-surfing friendly than paddle surfing on most days, with those consistent onshore winds and small, weak swell. Don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri night, min 18°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 23°C on Sat night, min 20°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 99 | 98 | 94 | 47 | 32 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 36 | 32 | 42 | 61 | 54 | 55 | 64 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:53PM3.26m | 10:25AM3.09m | 10:58PM3.07m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:37PM0.76m | 4:09AM0.81m | 4:36PM0.92m | 5:13AM0.99m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 9:25 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 5 | NW 6 | W 10 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 4 | NW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 4 |
21 | 99 | 98 | 19 | 47 | 32 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 36 | 5 | 42 | 61 | 54 | 55 | 64 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 11 | — | WNW 10 | W 10 | — | NW 5 | WNW 5 | W 9 | — | NW 4 | W 6 | WNW 9 | NW 4 | W 7 | NW 5 | NW 4 | W 6 | NW 8 |
— | — | 9 | — | 19 | 17 | — | 7 | 3 | 7 | — | 2 | 1 | 32 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 7 | — | — | WNW 10 |
— | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 7 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | — | — |
39 | — | — | 94 | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 265 | 133 | 75 | 184 | 22 | 0 | 581 | 626 | 805 | 670 | 389 | 90 | 523 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 2 | 0 | 184 | 22 |
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.











