Etretat Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is looking like a write-off. We’ve got a classic summer flat spell settling in over the region, and there’s just not a single session worth paddling out for. The charts are showing nothing but tiny, weak, and wonky energy. It’s the kind of run that’s more normal for this area when the swell patterns go quiet, so don’t let it get you down. Forecasts can always change, but for now, the board’s staying in the car.

The first bit of hope – if you can call it that – is on Monday the 27th of July. Etretat (reef) is the only game in town, but it’s a grim one. We’re looking at a measly 1ft of swell from the WNW, with a short 7-second period. The combined energy is a pathetic 18, barely a ripple. To make matters worse, the water is a very unusual 68°F, which is a massive 6°F above normal for this time of year. The wind is a cross-offshore, so the surface might be clean, but there’s simply no wave to ride. This is a beginner-friendly spot, but even a beginner would be bored.

Tuesday the 28th offers a tiny pulse on the morning session with a 2ft swell from the west and a 6-second period, and the wind goes a light offshore from the WSW. Still, the energy is just 15, and it’s a total non-event. The afternoon turns into a choppy mess with a cross-onshore wind. The rest of the week is a blur of tiny, weak swells that never get above 2ft, with onshore or cross-shore winds ruining any chance of a clean face. The 2ft on Friday the 31st is the biggest of the first week, but it’s a cross-onshore, choppy mess.

The second week doesn’t get any better. Wednesday the 5th of August morning has a glassy wind from the NE, which is a beautiful sight, but the swell is a pathetic 3ft from the north with a 5-second period and energy of 38. It’s technically clean, but there’s no power behind it. The same goes for the 10th and 11th of August – we get a consistent 2ft of west swell, with a period of 10 seconds, which is a decent groundswell, and the energy climbs to a moderate 49-50. The wind is offshore or light cross-off on the 10th, which would be a dream if there was any size. But 2ft is 2ft, and for a reef break like Etretat, it’s just not enough to wrap in.

There are no standouts here. The best conditions on offer are those glassy and clean windows on the 5th and the 10th, but the swell is too small to do anything with. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you might get a knee-high bump on the 10th morning, but it’s a long shot. For now, save your energy and wait for the next real swell.

Rusty.

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