Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with 98 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Etretat this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with hardly a ripple to speak of. The first real surf recommendation doesn’t pop up until the very end of the run, so we’re talking about a gap of 15 days with no real action. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll be waiting a while.
For the entire period, the only name in the game is Etretat. It’s a reef setup that’s consistent, but the swell just isn’t showing up in a meaningful way for most of it. The water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than average for this time of year – that’s a notable anomaly and feels more like late summer than autumn.
From Saturday the 12th right through to Friday the 26th of September, it’s all micro-swell. We’re talking heights of 0.3ft to 2ft, with weak combined energy readings that barely crack the 30 mark. Periods are short and jumbled, mostly under 10 seconds. It’s clean enough on some mornings with gentle cross-off breezes, but the reality is you’ll be bobbing around on barely a bump. Monday the 21st throws up a 3ft wave from the NNE, but it’s a short-period 5-second wind swell with onshore winds ruining it – a total write-off for a decent surf.
The one and only standout, and I’m being generous here, is on Sunday the 27th of September. The morning shows a pulse of 3ft from the NW with a 4-second period. The combined energy is still weak at 36, but the real kicker is the wind: a fresh offshore from the SW at 19 mph. That’ll clean Etretat up nicely, making it smooth and lined up. It’s a reef break, so that cross-off flow should produce some tidy little shoulders. It’s not big, and it’s not powerful, but after two weeks of flatness, if you’re a local who knows the bank, it’s the only window with a pulse. The afternoon drops off to nothing again.
Bottom line: if you’re not a die-hard, sit this one out. For the dedicated crew, that Sunday morning (27th) is your singular, if modest, chance for a slide.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 5 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 41 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 19 | 19 | 9 | 20 | 14 | 10 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:29PM8.36m | 00:43AM8.45m | 1:03PM8.39m | 1:17AM8.37m | 1:36PM8.26m | 1:52AM8.14m | 2:10PM8.00m | 2:27AM7.78m | 2:45PM7.62m | 3:04AM7.32m | 3:22PM7.16m | 3:46AM6.81m | 4:07PM6.67m | 4:41AM6.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:03PM0.96m | 7:22AM0.81m | 7:40PM1.03m | 7:57AM1.03m | 8:15PM1.27m | 8:32AM1.40m | 8:49PM1.64m | 9:05AM1.89m | 9:24PM2.11m | 9:40AM2.42m | 10:01PM2.62m | 10:18AM2.98m | 10:43PM3.12m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | |  | |  |  | | | | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — |
 | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 22 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 41 | 26 | 14 | 12 | — | — | — | 33 | 10 | 19 | 9 | 20 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | WNW 9 | NNW 4 | W 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | 8 | 1 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | W 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 5 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | WNW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 6 | NNW 4 | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 27 | 43 | 62 | 42 | 13 | — | — | 3 | — | 97 | 80 | 51 | 22 | 17 | 26 | 83 | 5 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 301 | 281 | 301 | 361 | 127 | 118 | 292 | 121 | 183 | 377 | 343 | 290 | 290 | 301 | 301 | 387 | 339 | 301 | 290 | 127 |
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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