Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, WNW swell with 130 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Etretat this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 1.3m 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 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 the cards for your local stretch.
Honestly, mate, this is a pretty grim run for Etretat (France). We’re looking at a solid 16-day stretch where the surf just doesn’t want to play ball. The whole outlook is full of “poor surf conditions” – it’s a long, quiet period with barely a ripple worth paddling for. Don’t get your hopes up.
We start off on Thursday the 13th of August with almost nothing. A tiny 1ft swell from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds. It’s glassy in the morning, which is nice, but there’s no energy to work with – combined energy is a measly 16. The water is sitting at 70°, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year, a whopping 4° anomaly. That’s very unusual, but with no waves, it’s just a warm bath.
The next few days are more of the same. Friday the 14th has a bit more energy (31), but the swell is still tiny at 1ft. The wind is a cross-shore, so it’s not clean. Saturday the 15th sees the wind pick up and a period drop to 5 seconds – that’s short-period, weak, choppy mush. Not worth a look.
There’s a slight glimmer on Thursday the 27th of August. The wind goes offshore from the WSW at 22 mph, and the swell bumps up to 3ft, with a period of 6 seconds. The combined energy hits 45, the highest we’ve seen, but that period is still short and weak. It’s a fresh offshore wind, which will make it clean, but the waves are only really for the longboard or a foamie. The swell direction is W, which isn’t the optimum SW for this reef, so it won’t hold its shape perfectly. Friday the 28th is similar, with offshore winds and a clean 2ft, but the period is still a short 8 seconds. The energy (50) is moderate at best.
So, the only two days that are even close to surfable are Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of August. But even then, we’re talking small, weak, short-period waves. It’s not a standout, it’s just the best of a bad bunch. For a beginner, that 3ft is fine, but with that short period, it’s going to be a lot of whitewater.
Honestly, this is a blank run. It’s normal for this area to have stretches like this, so don’t be too gutted. Forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board at home.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun night, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | N 5 | W 7 | W 7 | NW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | NW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 16 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:11PM8.11m | 00:25AM8.33m | 12:53PM8.28m | 1:07AM8.42m | 1:33PM8.29m | 1:47AM8.34m | 2:12PM8.16m | 2:26AM8.10m | 2:50PM7.89m | 3:06AM7.73m | 3:29PM7.52m | 3:48AM7.28m | 4:12PM7.09m | 4:35AM6.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:44PM1.10m | 7:06AM0.67m | 7:26PM0.96m | 7:47AM0.67m | 8:06PM1.03m | 8:27AM0.88m | 8:45PM1.27m | 9:05AM1.26m | 9:23PM1.66m | 9:42AM1.76m | 10:02PM2.14m | 10:20AM2.33m | 10:42PM2.65m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 33 | 32 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 7 | NNE 5 | W 7 | W 7 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 |
| kJ | 16 | 16 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | W 7 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | N 5 | — | N 2 | NW 4 | — | W 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | 11 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 11 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 22 | 91 | 130 | 80 | 48 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 387 | 140 | 313 | 387 | 147 | 329 | 390 | 147 | 339 | 732 | 732 | 386 | 732 | 348 | 378 | 772 | 348 | 301 | 404 | 345 |
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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