Surf Forecasts:
Etretat surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, W swell with 258 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with WNW 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Etretat in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) 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 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Etretat over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch.
The overall pattern is pretty grim. We’ve got a long, dry spell of tiny, weak surf with onshore or cross-off winds that just aren’t doing us any favours. The water is currently sitting at 68°, which is a whopping 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a warm bath, but the waves just aren't there to enjoy it.
We start off with a bit of size on Friday 4th September afternoon, but don’t get excited. The Etretat reef is picking up a 5ft swell from the WNW, but with a short, weak period of 7 seconds and a strong 19 mph cross-off wind from the West, it’s going to be a messy, blown-out 5ft. The combined energy is only 269 (moderate), but the conditions are poor. That’s a big pass from me.
Saturday 5th offers a tiny 2ft wave in the morning, but it’s a washout. The rest of the first week, from Sunday 6th right through to the end of the following weekend, is a write-off. We’re talking about 0.3ft to 2ft dribble with periods under 10 seconds and combined energy readings dropping to as low as 9 (very weak). The wind is all over the place – cross, cross-off, and onshore – but none of it is good. There’s a solid 10-day gap here with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for.
Things get a little more interesting, but not for the right reasons, on Thursday 17th September. The morning brings a 4ft swell from the West, but it’s paired with a nasty 22 mph cross-onshore wind from the NNE. The combined energy jumps to 123 (moderate), but with that wind, it’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess. Frankly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The following days stay tiny and onshore, with the occasional 3ft bump on Saturday 19th that’s ruined by a 16 mph onshore wind.
There is no standout here. Not a single day offers a genuine, quality surf session. The only thing worth noting is the warm water, but that’s small comfort when you’re staring at flat, windy conditions. It’s a tough run for the Etretat area.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 15 | WNW 13 | W 12 | W 10 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 269 | 0 | 32 | 22 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 35 | 69 | 53 | 0 | 188 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 258 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:29PM7.13m | 5:06AM6.82m | 5:43PM6.72m | 6:36AM6.52m | 7:17PM6.59m | 8:13AM6.60m | 8:44PM6.82m | 9:30AM6.97m | 9:52PM7.25m | 10:28AM7.44m | 10:44PM7.72m | 11:14AM7.86m | 11:28PM8.10m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:23PM2.61m | 11:56AM2.94m | 00:39AM2.95m | 1:23PM3.20m | 2:12AM2.92m | 2:54PM2.99m | 3:32AM2.47m | 4:04PM2.47m | 4:33AM1.88m | 4:58PM1.90m | 5:22AM1.34m | 5:44PM1.41m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 26 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | NW 15 | WNW 13 | W 12 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 28 | 12 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 35 | 69 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 10 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 32 | 22 | — | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | SSE 2 | — | S 3 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 4 | W 7 |
| kJ | 269 | 101 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 46 | 27 | 90 | 39 | 114 | 188 | 102 | 84 | 64 | 50 | 18 | 258 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 258 | 301 | 0 | 208 | 118 | 121 | 147 | 206 | 343 | 290 | 301 | 301 | 394 | 303 | 301 | 385 | 301 | 346 | 339 | 339 |
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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