
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period, W swell with 556 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s 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 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period. 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 1.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let's have a look at what's shaping up for the next couple of weeks at Le Petit Train. Straight up, the overall picture is a bit of a mixed bag – there's wave energy coming through, but the wind's going to be a real pest most of the time. The water temp is sitting at 74°, with a big anomaly of 5° warmer than normal. That's noticeably warm for this time of year.
So, first off, Monday afternoon we get a clean 3ft swell from the W, with a period of 14 seconds – that's proper groundswell energy, it's got some grunt (485 energy). But the wind is howling from the WNW at 9 mph, blowing cross-on, and it's just choppy. It's a frustrating start.
Tuesday and Wednesday are more of the same; we've got some size, around 4ft to 5ft, but the wind just won't let up, blowing cross-on and making a mess of things. It's not the kind of surf you paddle out for. Thursday is a bit smaller, dropping to 3ft, and the wind goes light on the morning, but we're still looking at a cross-on breeze.
Now, for a glimmer of hope. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th in the mornings, we see the swell drop right down to 2ft. It's tiny, almost flat, and the energy is weak (53 and 52). But, and it's a big but, the wind goes glassy. Zero wind. It's clean as a whistle, but you'll be on a big board hunting for anything rideable.
The real standout window opens up on Sunday morning, September 13th. This is the one to circle. We've got a solid 4ft swell from the WNW, but the period jumps to 13 seconds – that's some proper long-period groundswell, giving it a lot of push (382 energy) despite the height. And the wind? Dead flat. Zero mph, glassy as a lake. It's going to be clean, lined-up sets. Because the period is long, this kind of swell can break a bit straight at a beach setup, but at Le Petit Train it's what we're after. Get on it early because the afternoon goes cross-on and chops it up.
Monday morning the 14th is also worth a mention. Another glassy morning, with a 3ft swell from the WNW at 12 seconds (263 energy). It's not as big as Sunday, but it'll be clean and fun before the wind turns.
Looking further out, there are a few more promising mornings. Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th both have glassy starts with 5ft and 4ft swells from the NW. The energy is looking solid (431 and 312). Thursday's swell has an 11-second period, so again, good shape. Friday's is a shorter 9-second period, so a bit more local windswell in the mix, but still clean. The swell on Thursday is pushing 5ft, which is getting into a fun size.
Then on Saturday the 19th, we've got a morning with 4ft from the NW, glassy again, but it's a short 7-second period and it's raining. The conditions will be clean but the waves might be a bit lumpy and weak.
Beyond that, into the second week, it gets messy again. The swell hangs around but the wind turns back to a strong cross-on, so it's mostly a write-off. We do get a clean-ish window on the morning of Tuesday the 22nd with a light cross-off breeze, but the swell is down to 2ft with 111 energy. It's surfable but very ordinary.
All in all, if you're looking to get wet, Sunday the 13th is your best bet. That glassy morning with the long-period 4ft swell is the pick of the forecast. Thursday the 17th is a very close second for a bigger, cleaner session. Everywhere else, you're fighting the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat night, min 16°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 14 | W 12 | W 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
383 | 488 | 307 | 469 | 370 | 360 | 307 | 193 | 200 | 151 | 95 | 41 | 20 | 62 | 48 | 54 | 103 | 378 | 408 | 278 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:27PM3.25m | 3:08AM3.22m | 3:28PM3.58m | 4:00AM3.50m | 4:16PM3.88m | 4:44AM3.72m | 4:59PM4.09m | 5:24AM3.87m | 5:38PM4.18m | 6:00AM3.93m | 6:15PM4.15m | 6:34AM3.90m | 6:50PM4.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:37PM0.74m | 8:58AM0.77m | 9:34PM0.42m | 9:49AM0.47m | 10:21PM0.15m | 10:33AM0.21m | 11:02PM-0.04m | 11:13AM0.04m | 11:39PM-0.11m | 11:51AM-0.03m | 00:15AM-0.07m | 12:28PM0.00m | 00:50AM0.07m | |||||||
— | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 12 | W 11 | — | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | W 12 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 |
383 | 488 | 307 | — | 125 | 360 | 24 | 193 | 200 | 3 | 95 | 41 | 17 | 62 | 48 | 54 | 31 | 378 | 408 | 278 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | W 16 | W 14 | NW 4 | — | NNW 4 |
82 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 5 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 103 | 4 | — | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — |
20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 20 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 9 | NW 5 | — | WNW 9 | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 469 | 370 | — | 307 | 24 | — | 151 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 147 | 56 | 94 | 153 | 165 | 22 | 182 | 111 | 22 | 182 | 2 | 0 | 184 | 29 | 0 | 265 | 21 | 0 | 184 | 2 |
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.










