Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, WNW swell with 223 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Etretat this week:
The surf forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve had a good hard look at what’s coming up for Etretat, and I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough run. This is a reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s a consistent spot, but the next couple of weeks are mostly a write-off for surf.
The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Friday the 11th. Before that, we’re looking at a long, dull stretch of ankle-biters and flat spells. From now until then, we’re dealing with tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, with flukey winds. The water is sitting at 69°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 5°F above average, so that’s a weird one for early September.
Friday the 11th finally brings a pulse of energy. The swell jumps to 5ft from the west, with a period of just 6 seconds. That’s a short-period, wind-driven swell, so it’s going to be a bit messy. The combined energy is moderate (193), and the wind is a fresh offshore from the southwest, which will clean the faces up. This is the standout window, but it’s not a beginner wave – 5ft on a reef with that short period can be a handful and punchy. It’s more of an expert’s session. The afternoon of the 11th is the best of the bunch.
The rest of the first week is a saga of small, weak waves with cross-offshores or onshores, keeping the surface lumpy or choppy. There’s a little window on Tuesday the 15th morning with a gentle offshore and clean conditions, but the swell is only 1ft – a real grovel.
Into the second week, it doesn’t get much better. By Saturday the 19th, we see a glassy morning with a tiny 1ft from the WNW, but it’s barely a ripple. The combined energy is weak (20). The afternoon of the 18th shows a 3ft swell from the NNE, but it’s a 5-second period, so it’s just a choppy, weak push. Honestly, there’s nothing here that screams “go.”
So, for the best on offer, it’s Friday the 11th afternoon. The West swell at 5ft with a fresh offshore wind is the only real surfable window, but it’s short-period and punchy. Keep your expectations in check. This is a dry spell, but Etretat is a consistent spot, so it won’t stay this way forever.
Stay patient,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sat night, fresh winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 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 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 14 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 5 | WNW 5 | W 8 | WNW 5 | WSW 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 32 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 52 | 35 | 33 | 27 | 15 | 15 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 193 | 150 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 5:43PM6.72m | 6:36AM6.52m | 7:17PM6.59m | 8:13AM6.60m | 8:44PM6.82m | 9:30AM6.97m | 9:52PM7.25m | 10:28AM7.44m | 10:44PM7.72m | 11:14AM7.86m | 11:28PM8.10m | 11:53AM8.18m | 00:06AM8.36m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM2.95m | 1:23PM3.20m | 2:12AM2.92m | 2:54PM2.99m | 3:32AM2.47m | 4:04PM2.47m | 4:33AM1.88m | 4:58PM1.90m | 5:22AM1.34m | 5:44PM1.41m | 6:05AM0.96m | 6:25PM1.09m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — |
 | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 26 | 28 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 16 | 24 | 26 | 16 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 14 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 5 | WNW 5 | W 8 | WNW 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 20 | 32 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 52 | 35 | 33 | 27 | 15 | 15 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 7 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | — | WNW 10 | W 9 | — | NW 16 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | W 6 | — | W 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 21 | — | 9 | 6 | — | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | WNW 6 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | WSW 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 9 | 80 | 47 | 53 | 69 | 32 | 19 | — | — | 7 | — | 76 | 193 | 150 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 183 | 118 | 121 | 185 | 206 | 371 | 361 | 301 | 207 | 141 | 161 | 140 | 313 | 121 | 121 | 313 | 121 | 39 | 387 | 282 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Normandy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in France | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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