Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, WNW swell with 33 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Etretat this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 0.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, folks, it’s Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is looking pretty flat for the foreseeable future. We’ve got a real dry spell on our hands.
Looking at the whole 16-day window, from Wednesday the 12th of August right through to Thursday the 27th, the surf is going to be a major struggle. The first actual recommendation for a surf doesn't pop up until Wednesday the 26th of August, which means we’re looking at a gap of about two weeks with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for. The swell energy is tiny, with the combined energy peaking at a weak 49, and most days are sitting in the single digits or low double digits. That’s just not enough to get excited about.
For a rare glimmer of hope, we have to look way out to Wednesday the 26th of August morning at Etretat (France). This is a reef break, exposed to the swell, and it's got a consistent reputation. The water is about average for the time of year. On that morning, we’re looking at a 3 ft swell from the WNW, with a short period of 6 seconds. The wind is WNW at 16 mph, coming cross-offshore, which will keep the conditions clean. The combined energy is a weak 49. Still, it’s the best we’ve got – small, clean, and a chance of a ripple. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the only game in town.
The afternoon of the 26th keeps the same clean cross-offshore wind from the WNW at 22 mph, with a slightly smaller 2 ft swell from the WNW. Still small.
Thursday the 27th of August morning sees a drop back to 1 ft from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds, but the wind is still a strong 19 mph cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The combined energy is a weak 37.
Honestly, lads, for the first two weeks, the wind is often onshore, cross-onshore, or just plain messy. The swell is tiny and weak. It’s a tough time to be a surfer in this area. Even the little 3 ft bump on the 26th is only really for the most dedicated longboarders or those desperate for a splash. The short period means it won’t have much push.
Hang in there. It’s a blank run, but forecasts can change. For now, I’d leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 5 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 5 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 2:50PM7.89m | 3:06AM7.73m | 3:29PM7.52m | 3:48AM7.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:05AM1.26m | 9:23PM1.66m | 9:42AM1.76m | 10:02PM2.14m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 25 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NNE 5 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | W 8 | NW 4 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | W 5 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WNW 10 | NNE 4 | — | — | NE 4 | — | W 5 | W 8 | — | W 8 | NW 5 | — | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 8 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 7 | 5 | — | 11 | 6 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | — | — | NE 5 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | — | — | NW 4 | — | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 |
| kJ | 3 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14 | — | — | 13 | — | 7 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 147 | 147 | 118 | 170 | 301 | 290 | 313 | 339 | 331 | 339 | 329 | 374 | 339 | 397 | 464 | 732 | 447 | 343 | 387 | 302 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Normandy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Etretat surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest