Etretat Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks, starting today. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak run for the most part, so temper those expectations.

We’re looking at Etretat, a reef setup that’s consistent and takes a south-west swell direction best. The water is sitting at 69°F, which is a massive 6°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you’ll be in boardshorts without a wetsuit if you’re brave.

The first bit of hope comes on Saturday the 30th of August. The morning is the pick of the first few days – we’ve got a moderate offshore wind from the SSW, which will have the waves clean. The swell is 4ft from the west, with a period of 6 seconds. That short period means it’s a bit jumbled, but it’s surfable. The energy is moderate at 168, so there’s something to push you around. The afternoon goes very small, dropping to 2ft, so the morning window is really the only chance here.

Then it gets messy. Monday the 31st of August brings a bigger pulse – 7ft from the west, period 7 seconds. That’s getting solid, and with strong cross-offshore winds from the WSW, it’s going to be a slog. The combined energy hits 475, which is serious power, but with that size and cross-off wind, it’s more of a battle than a joy. This is expert territory, and honestly, it looks like it might be better for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the conditions are just too rough.

After that, we hit a proper dead zone. From the 1st of September right through to the 13th of September, it’s almost all small, weak, or flat. Wave heights are mostly below 2ft, with energy readings dropping to single digits or low double digits. The wind is a mixed bag, sometimes offshore but often cross-off or cross-shore, and the swell periods are short and unappealing. There’s a tiny blip on the 5th of September with 5ft from the west at 7 seconds, but it’s cross-off, and the energy is only 181 – still not worth getting excited about. The 11th of September has a long-period swell of 11 seconds from the WNW, but it’s a tiny 0.7ft, so it’s just a tease.

To be honest, there’s no standout session here. The only remotely decent window is the morning of the 30th of August, with that 4ft and offshore wind. It’s not epic, but it’s the best of a bad lot. The rest of the 16 days is a long, quiet stretch. Hold tight, mate – it’s one of those periods where you’re better off checking the forecast again in a few days.

Rusty.

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