Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, WNW swell with 188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with WNW 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for the local stretch.
Well, frankly, it's a quiet run ahead. We're looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, the first proper ripple doesn't even show up until Saturday the 5th of September, and even then, it's a bit of a struggle. The energy is weak, with the combined swell energy sitting at a measly 61, and that's about as good as it gets for a while. The water is sitting at 68°, which is a whopping 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's a seriously warm bath for early September.
The only spot that's really on the radar here is Etretat, a reef break that's consistent and exposed to the west. The swell direction is mostly from the west, which is what the reef likes to see. But the problem is the size. We're looking at tiny waves, starting with a 2ft swell from the west on Saturday morning, with a short 8-second period. The wind is a cross-off from the WNW at 9 mph, which will keep the surface reasonably clean. It's surfable, but it's very ordinary. The rest of that day and the following week is a write-off – nothing but flat spells and poor conditions.
The next real blip doesn't come until Friday the 11th of September. The morning shows a 5ft swell from the west, but the period is a short, choppy 6 seconds, and the combined energy is 167 – still moderate. Problem is, the wind is a cross-off at 16 mph, and the forecast says "poor surf conditions." With that size and short period, it's likely to be a messy, bumpy wall of water. Not worth getting excited about.
After that, it's back to tiny, weak waves for the rest of the outlook. The end of the second week, around the 16th and 17th of September, we see some offshore winds from the SW, but the swell is tiny—0.7ft to 1ft—so there's just nothing to ride.
So, the honest truth is there's no standout here. The best on offer is that tiny 2ft wave on Saturday morning, but it's a beginner wave at best. If you're a kite surfer, the strong cross-off winds on the 11th might look more interesting than the wave itself. For everyone else, it's a waiting game. The blank run is pretty normal for this area when the swell window goes quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 16 | WNW 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 31 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 70 | 57 | 0 | 188 | 10 | 0 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 167 | 0 | 160 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-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 | 11:56AM2.94m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 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 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 27 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 26 | 25 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 16 | WNW 13 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 30 | 12 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 70 | 57 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 10 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 31 | 21 | — | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 2 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 48 | 61 | 64 | 75 | 88 | 188 | 145 | 109 | 130 | 71 | 67 | 132 | 167 | 154 | 160 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 208 | 118 | 160 | 147 | 206 | 301 | 424 | 339 | 141 | 339 | 301 | 329 | 390 | 301 | 301 | 301 | 58 | 339 | 290 | 301 |
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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