Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, WNW swell with 155 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period with W 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it. The scene is Etretat, and I gotta be straight with you – this outlook is a slow burner. We've got a long stretch of nothing special ahead, followed by a late-breaking window that might just get the heart pumping.
Right now, and for the next two weeks through the end of August, it's pretty grim. The swell energy is either non-existent or dribbling in at less than 2ft – not enough to even bother waxing a board for. The water’s a toasty 69°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, but that's about the only highlight.
We see a few mornings, like the 20th of August, with a fresh offshore wind, but no swell to ride. Then we get bogged down by onshore winds and tiny, short-period slop. There are gaps of several days here where you’d be better off taking a long walk along the cliffs than paddling out. The whole first half of the forecast is a write-off for surf.
Now, hold on. The first real spark shows up on Tuesday, the 1st of September. The afternoon brings a jump in swell – 6ft from the WSW (6 seconds). That’s still a bit short and lumpy, with a strong cross-shore wind, and the combined energy is moderate (269). It's a beach-and-reef setup here, so with that strong cross-wind, it might look more interesting for the kite crew than the paddle crew.
But the real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Wednesday the 2nd of September. We're looking at a solid 6ft of swell from the WNW. The period is still short at 6 seconds, but the wind swings to a clean cross-offshore breeze. The wave energy is moderate (260) and the face will be clean. For Etretat, this is about as good as it gets during a dry spell like this. The reef will be working, offering up some shape. It's a consistent break, so you won't be sitting alone, and you can expect other folks in the water. This one is a real chance to score some clean, reeling walls before the wind shifts later in the afternoon.
It’s not a pumping groundswell, but that window on the 2nd is your best bet. The forecasts are less certain that far out, but that promise of clean lines is all we’ve got. Get it while it lasts.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue night, min 17°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sat night, light winds from the ENE by Mon morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 10 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 155 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 134 | 26 | 57 | 22 | 11 | 27 | 68 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:29PM7.52m | 3:48AM7.28m | 4:12PM7.09m | 4:35AM6.79m | 5:03PM6.65m | 5:35AM6.34m | 6:09PM6.30m | 6:51AM6.06m | 7:26PM6.14m | 8:11AM6.04m | 8:41PM6.24m | 9:21AM6.26m | 9:42PM6.53m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:02PM2.14m | 10:20AM2.33m | 10:42PM2.65m | 11:01AM2.90m | 11:28PM3.15m | 11:52AM3.41m | 00:32AM3.54m | 1:07PM3.75m | 2:05AM3.66m | 2:46PM3.73m | 3:29AM3.40m | 3:57PM3.39m | 4:24AM2.96m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 |
mm | — | — | 2 | 14 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 5 | — | W 10 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | NNE 4 | — | W 8 | W 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 20 | — | 2 | — | 134 | 26 | 57 | 15 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | NE 4 | — | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 22 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | — | — | WNW 3 | — |
| kJ | 132 | 155 | 66 | — | 103 | 149 | 92 | — | 33 | — | — | — | 27 | 68 | 18 | 14 | — | — | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 476 | 301 | 141 | 202 | 301 | 419 | 408 | 301 | 123 | 313 | 121 | 339 | 347 | 339 | 331 | 362 | 382 | 362 | 447 | 700 |
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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