
Surf Forecasts:
Le Petit Train surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period, WNW swell with 543 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 (Sep 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s. 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 5PM. 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+) | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Le Petit Train over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's happening at Le Petit Train over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it's a pretty grim run for the most part. We’ve got a tiny little window of something, but you’ve gotta be patient and pick your moments.
The first week is largely a write-off. We kick off on Thursday the 3rd with a tiny 2ft WNW swell, and while the morning has light cross-offshore winds, the combined energy is a weak 34, and the forecast calls it poor. That afternoon, the wind swings onshore and gets nasty. That sets the tone. Friday the 4th morning is about the best early look: glassy conditions with a 2ft WNW swell and a combined energy of 59. It’s small, but it’s surfable. That window closes fast though, with the afternoon turning choppy again.
The rest of that first week and into the second is a steady diet of onshore winds and marginal conditions. There’s a bump in swell on Saturday the 5th afternoon, hitting 4ft from the WNW with a 13-second period and decent energy (543), but it comes with a cross-shore breeze. Sunday the 6th through to the 15th is mostly poor, with a few mornings offering clean but tiny waves under light winds. The swell stays under 3ft for most of that stretch, and the wind is often a problem.
Then, finally, a real standout appears. On the morning of Tuesday the 16th of September, we’ve got a clean 3ft swell from the WNW with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 245. The wind is a light offshore from the NE, keeping things clean. The forecast even says to expect good surf conditions. It’s not huge, but after two weeks of rubbish, a clean, surfable morning is gold. This is your best bet in the whole outlook.
Don’t get too excited about the areas of glassy or clean conditions earlier in the week because the swell just isn’t there. The 16th morning is the one to circle on the calendar, but that afternoon the onshore wind returns. Overall, for a spot that’s exposed but inconsistent, a blank run like this is pretty normal. It doesn't tend to stay this poor forever though, and forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Sat night, min 17°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 15 | W 13 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
34 | 51 | 53 | 59 | 75 | 79 | 133 | 543 | 419 | 252 | 297 | 85 | 155 | 395 | 430 | 408 | 312 | 307 | 244 | 207 | 178 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:01AM3.33m | 9:31PM3.21m | 9:59AM3.10m | 10:43PM2.94m | 11:24AM2.94m | 00:25AM2.83m | 1:05PM2.99m | 2:00AM2.96m | 2:27PM3.25m | 3:08AM3.22m | 3:28PM3.58m | 4:00AM3.50m | 4:16PM3.88m | 4:44AM3.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:13PM0.69m | 3:41AM0.88m | 4:16PM0.94m | 4:51AM1.13m | 5:42PM1.08m | 6:22AM1.21m | 7:19PM1.01m | 7:51AM1.06m | 8:37PM0.74m | 8:58AM0.77m | 9:34PM0.42m | 9:49AM0.47m | 10:21PM0.15m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 30 | 32 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 6 | W 13 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | NW 9 |
34 | 51 | 53 | 59 | 75 | 79 | 133 | 543 | 419 | 252 | — | 85 | 34 | 395 | 430 | 408 | 312 | 307 | 244 | — | 178 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 14 | — | — | — | — | W 17 | W 15 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 107 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 155 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 2 | N 3 | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — |
— | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 297 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 207 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 192 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 80 | 227 | 153 | 94 | 153 | 192 | 94 | 94 | 56 | 22 | 184 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gironde | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










