Etretat Surf Break

Lat Long: 49.71° N 0.19° E

Etretat Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Etretat sea temperature is
19.3° C
3.7° 

Etretat surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Etretat surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, NNE swell with 178 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period with NE 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (CEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 5s
Best Surf 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 5s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sun 12th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.


G'day, this is Rusty. Looking at the next 16 days for the Etretat area, I have to be honest with you – it's a pretty bleak picture. The first real chance of a surfable wave doesn't pop up until Thursday, July 23rd. That's a solid week and a half of flat, blown-out nothingness. For a spot that's consistent, it's a frustrating run, but it happens.

The water temperature is a talking point, though. When we get to that first event, the water is 67°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than average for this time of year. That's very unusual, so you'll be in a warm bathtub.

Let's get into the detail. From Sunday, July 12th, right through to Tuesday, July 21st, it's dead. The swell is tiny, sometimes non-existent, and when there is a little bump, it's from the wrong direction (NNE) with a short, weak period of 5-6 seconds. The wind is mostly howling straight onshore, tearing up any hope of a clean wave. The wave energy is pathetic – the combined energy (50) on Sunday the 12th just shows how weak it is. Save your energy.

There's a tiny moment on the 16th, Thursday, but it's 0.3ft. Not worth a look.

Now, the one and only chance. Thursday, July 23rd. The afternoon shows some life. The swell builds to 5ft from the west, with a period of 6 seconds (short-period windswell), and the total energy hits 156 (moderate). The wind will be a light, cross-offshore breeze, which is a big tick for clean conditions. The break at Etretat is a consistent reef, and while the west swell isn't the perfect angle (it prefers SW), it should still wrap in and produce some fun, albeit slightly crumbly, waves. The light wind is the key factor here – it will make the surface glassy. The crowds are "sometimes," so expect a few locals to be out, but it won't be a zoo.

After that, the 24th kicks up a bit more windswell, but the wind cranks to 25-30 mph, making it a messy, choppy affair. The rest of the second week just fades back into tiny, weak bumps with cross-offshore winds. The models are showing small, short-period leftovers for the second week, and the wind is just enough to keep it clean but small.

So, bottom line: the whole 16-day window is a write-off except for the afternoon of Thursday, July 23rd. That's your only shot at a clean, waist-high wave at Etretat. It's not a classic, but it's the best we've got.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Sun night, light winds from the NE by Tue morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds.

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
NNE
6
1.6
NNE
6
1.8
NNE
7
1.4
NNE
7
1.9
NNE
7
1.4
NNE
6
0.7
NNE
5
1.3
NNE
5
0.1
W
11
0.1
W
10
1.4
NNE
6
0.1
W
9
0.1
W
9
0.1
W
9
0.1
W
8
0.1
W
9
0.1
W
8
0.4
WNW
4
0.2
W
8
0.2
W
7
0.1
W
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
49
178
0
0
0
0
0
86
2
2
114
2
2
2
1
1
1
5
5
4
1
Wind (km/h)
30
NE
45
NE
45
NE
35
NE
35
NE
35
ENE
20
NE
30
NNE
30
NE
25
NE
40
NE
10
S
15
WNW
5
NNW
15
W
25
WSW
15
NW
15
W
15
W
15
NNW
15
ENE
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
High Tide
9:30AM7.29m
9:56PM7.58m
10:30AM7.58m
10:53PM7.86m
11:26AM7.85m
11:46PM8.10m
12:19PM8.05m
00:36AM8.25m
1:09PM8.14m
1:25AM8.27m
1:57PM8.10m
2:12AM8.16m
2:44PM7.93m
2:58AM7.91m
Low Tide
4:21PM2.11m
4:53AM1.69m
5:19PM1.72m
5:47AM1.23m
6:11PM1.38m
6:37AM0.88m
6:59PM1.15m
7:24AM0.70m
7:45PM1.08m
8:09AM0.71m
8:30PM1.18m
8:53AM0.92m
9:14PM1.43m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:04
10:02
10:02
10:01
10:00
10:00
9:59
 mm
3
4
Temp °C
25
25
22
22
23
19
22
26
24
27
30
26
23
23
21
19
21
21
19
22
21
Feels °C
21
20
14
16
18
12
20
22
20
23
25
26
24
24
20
17
19
20
18
21
19
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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