
Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, NNE swell with 48 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Etretat this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with you—this outlook for Etretat is a tough one. We’ve got a full 16-day run in front of us, but honestly, I can’t find a single moment where I’d be paddling out. The whole forecast period from the 10th of August right through to the 25th of August is a blank. Not one session scores above a zero in my book.
The wave energy is pitiful, with the combined energy of all swells directed here barely reaching 38 (moderate energy) on the 11th of August afternoon, but that’s attached to a tiny 3 ft swell from the NNE with a period of just 5 seconds. That’s short-period windswell, won’t hold up, and the wind is howling onshore at 19 mph from the NE. It’s a mess.
We see a few moments of clean conditions thanks to light winds and a cross-off or offshore direction, like on the morning of the 13th of August (SSW 6 mph, cross-off) or the 22nd of August morning (S 6 mph, cross-off), but there’s simply no swell to work with. Heights are mostly below 2 ft, and the energy values are in the single digits or low teens. It’s basically flat with a ripple.
The water temperature on the 10th of August was 69°—that’s much warmer than normal for the time of year, with an anomaly of 7°, which is very unusual. But it doesn’t matter when there’s no surf.
This spot, Etretat (France), is a consistent reef break that works best with a SW swell, but the forecast shows almost every pulse coming from the NW, W, or NE quadrants. Wrong direction entirely. The few moments of offshore wind (20th of August morning from the SW at 12 mph) deliver zero swell energy. Just clean, flat water.
So what’s the call? If you’re a surfer, you’re looking at a two-week-plus hiatus. A blank run like this is a real bummer for an area that can usually produce, but it happens. Keep an eye on the charts—forecasts can change, and this stretch can’t stay this poor forever. For now, maybe break out the longboard for a paddle or give the kite a go if you’re into that. I’d be hitting the beach for a walk, not a surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Mon night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | E 3 | W 11 | NNE 4 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 4 | W 7 | W 8 | NE 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 5 | 13 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 10 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | on | on |
High Tide | 9:51PM7.32m | 10:29AM7.41m | 10:49PM7.72m | 11:23AM7.80m | 11:40PM8.08m | 12:11PM8.11m | 00:25AM8.33m | 12:53PM8.28m | 1:07AM8.42m | 1:33PM8.29m | 1:47AM8.34m | 2:12PM8.16m | 2:26AM8.10m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:12PM2.39m | 4:44AM1.84m | 5:10PM1.88m | 5:36AM1.30m | 5:59PM1.42m | 6:23AM0.89m | 6:44PM1.10m | 7:06AM0.67m | 7:26PM0.96m | 7:47AM0.67m | 8:06PM1.03m | 8:27AM0.88m | 8:45PM1.27m | |||||||
— | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 9:25 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | W 4 | W 8 | W 8 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | W 10 | NNE 5 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 5 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 7 |
7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 4 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | — | W 8 | W 11 | W 7 | WNW 10 | NNE 5 | — | WNW 3 | — | — | WNW 9 | — | N 4 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | — |
1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 16 | — | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | NNW 4 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | E 3 | — | NNE 4 | E 3 | — | — | — | WNW 4 | W 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 4 |
1 | 5 | 13 | 37 | 2 | — | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | 11 | 45 | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 393 | 378 | 379 | 760 | 378 | 301 | 342 | 147 | 170 | 153 | 147 | 313 | 361 | 345 | 321 | 343 | 339 | 339 | 375 | 369 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Normandy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Etretat Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Etretat provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Etretat can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Etretat 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 (Etretat) 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 Etretat 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.
Etretat is 14 km (9 miles) from Fecamp. If you plan a holiday in Normandy, look for hotels and other accommodation in Fecamp. Fecamp has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











