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France

Étretat

Sun, sea & sand

Étretat at a glance

Best time
Jul – Aug
Warmest month
Aug · 20°
Warmest sea
Aug · 18.7°
Sunshine a year
1,830 h
Rain a year
946 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+1 / UTC+2
Elevation
8 m

Climate in Étretat

Étretat has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 20 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,830 hours of sunshine a year, Étretat is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.7 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

6

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: July – August

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 12°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 15°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 16°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 14°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 13°

08:1919:11

Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:59–09:03 · evening 18:27–19:31
Blue hour
Morning 07:46–07:59 · evening 19:31–19:43

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Étretat in October?

In October, Étretat is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 107 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 52 min08:19 – 19:11
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
27 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
70 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+2Europe/Paris

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %15 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %17 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Étretat

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October16.1°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 15.3 – 16.8 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 16.1°8 in 10 years 15.3° – 16.8°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Étretat ranges from 7.9 °C in February to 18.7 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

From October to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 17.8 and 19.7 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan8.7°7.6°9.7°cold
FebruaryFeb7.9°6.8°8.8°cold
MarchMar8.3°7.1°9.2°cold
AprilApr10.0°9.0°11.1°cold
MayMay12.3°11.3°13.1°cold
JuneJun15.1°14.1°16.3°cold
JulyJul17.4°16.4°18.5°fresh
AugustAug18.7°17.8°19.7°fresh
SeptemberSep18.1°17.3°18.8°fresh
OctoberOct16.1°15.3°16.8°cold
NovemberNov13.3°12.6°14.2°cold
DecemberDec10.5°9.5°11.5°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Étretat

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,830 hours
Sunniest month
Jun · 7.7 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 2.0 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.9 hDaylight 10.9 hShare of daylight 36 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.9 of 10.9 hours of daylight in Étretat, 36 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Étretat

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 8).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 60 min
Fair skin
about 75 min
Light brown skin
about 105 min
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Étretat: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
946 mm on 157 days
Wettest month
Nov · 118 mm
Driest month
Apr · 56 mm
OctoberRainy days 16Rainfall 107 mm

In October, Étretat has about 16 rainy days with 107 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Étretat

How breezy and how cloudy Étretat is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
26 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Dec · 30 km/h
Calmest month
Jun · 22 km/h
OctoberWind 27 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Étretat typically peaks at 27 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
66 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Jul · 57 %
Cloudiest month
Dec · 75 %
OctoberCloud cover 70 %Sunshine 3.9 h

In October, cloud covers on average 70 % of the sky over Étretat: mostly cloudy, with about 3.9 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Étretat

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°
  • Pleasant 15–20°

CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (5°), the warmest in August (16°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 16°Night 12°Sea 16°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan48°5°8.7°2.1 h1587
FebruaryFeb78°5°7.9°3.1 h1371
MarchMar1310°6°8.3°4.5 h1366
AprilApr2313°7°10.0°6.5 h1056
MayMay2315°10°12.3°7.1 h1262
JuneJun2518°13°15.1°7.7 h1160
JulyJul3120°15°17.4°7.7 h1159
AugustAug3620°16°18.7°7.1 h1273
SeptemberSep2219°14°18.1°5.8 h1274
OctoberOct616°12°16.1°3.9 h16107
NovemberNov111°8°13.3°2.4 h17118
DecemberDec39°6°10.5°2.0 h16113

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

49.71° N, 0.21° E · 8 m · Europe/Paris

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Étretat

The best time to visit Étretat is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.7 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from October to March; the wettest month is November with 118 mm.

Étretat through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Étretat in spring

Mar – May

20

Poor

  • 10–15 °C by day
  • Sea 10 °C
  • 6 h of sun a day
  • 35 rainy days in all

Étretat in summer

Jun – Aug

31

Poor

  • 18–20 °C by day
  • Sea 17 °C
  • 8 h of sun a day
  • 35 rainy days in all

Étretat in autumn

Sep – Nov

10

Poor

  • 11–19 °C by day
  • Sea 16 °C
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 44 rainy days in all

Étretat in winter

Dec – Feb

5

Poor

  • 8–9 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 44 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Étretat for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: June – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Étretat

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

August has the better holiday weather in Étretat: score 36 against 6. In August, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in August. August has 4 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.

October vs. August, Étretat
MonthOctoberAugust
Weather score636better
Day high16°20°
Night low12°16°
Sea16.1°18.7°
Sunshine3.9 h7.1 hbetter
Rainy days1612better
Rainfall107 mm73 mmbetter
Muggy days0better1

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No month

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

May – Sep

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Oct – Mar

12 or more rainy days

Étretat month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

4January8° · Sea 9° · 2 h

In January, Étretat is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 8.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 87 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in January
7February8° · Sea 8° · 3 h

In February, Étretat is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 7.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 71 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in February
13March10° · Sea 8° · 5 h

In March, Étretat is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 8.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in March
23April13° · Sea 10° · 7 h

In April, Étretat is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 56 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in April
23May15° · Sea 12° · 7 h

In May, Étretat is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 62 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in May
25June18° · Sea 15° · 8 h

In June, Étretat is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in June
31July20° · Sea 17° · 8 h

In July, Étretat is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 59 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in July
36August20° · Sea 19° · 7 h

In August, Étretat is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 18.7 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in August
22September19° · Sea 18° · 6 h

In September, Étretat is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 18.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 74 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in September
6October16° · Sea 16° · 4 h

In October, Étretat is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 107 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in October
1November11° · Sea 13° · 2 h

In November, Étretat is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 118 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in November
3December9° · Sea 11° · 2 h

In December, Étretat is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 10.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 113 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Étretat.

Étretat in December
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Étretat compared

Put Étretat side by side with another destination.

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Étretat vs. Le Havre

In October the holiday weather in Étretat and Le Havre is about equally good (score 6 vs. 8). During the day it is about as warm in Le Havre as in Étretat. The sea is about equally warm.

Étretat vs. Le Havre, in October
in OctoberÉtretatLe Havre
Holiday score68
Daytime high16°16°
Sea16°16°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1615
Best timeJul – AugMay – Sep

Through the year

OctoberÉtretat 16°Le Havre 16°
ÉtretatLe Havre
Go to Le Havre
Ranking

France in October: the best places

In October, Étretat ranks 31 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. Fontainebleau17°65
  2. 2Angers17°65
  3. 3Tours18°65
  4. 4Nantes17°63
  5. 5Orléans17°62
  6. 6Le Mans17°60
  7. 7Troyes17°60
  8. 8Paris17°59
  9. 31ÉtretatThis page16°16°6
All destinations: France

Planning a trip to Étretat

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Étretat in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Étretat has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 34) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 4).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    20

    Poor

    • 12 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 5.9 h of sun a day
    • 11 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    23

    Poor

    • 16 °C by day
    • Sea 13 °C
    • 7.2 h of sun a day
    • 11 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    34

    PoorBest holidays

    • 20 °C by day
    • Sea 18 °C
    • 7.3 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • October half-term

    Oct

    6

    Poor

    • 16 °C by day
    • Sea 16 °C
    • 3.9 h of sun a day
    • 16 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    4

    Poor

    • 8 °C by day
    • Sea 10 °C
    • 2.1 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
200 km
Time zone
UTC+2
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Étretat

When is the best time to visit Étretat?

The best time to visit Étretat is from July to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Étretat?

The sea temperature in Étretat ranges from 7.9 °C in February to 18.7 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Étretat in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 16.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Étretat?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C and nights around 16 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.

When does it rain most in Étretat?

Rain is most frequent from October to March; the wettest month is November with 118 mm. The driest month is April with 56 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Étretat get?

Étretat gets around 1,830 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.7 hours a day; in December there are 2.0 hours a day.

What time zone is Étretat in?

Étretat uses the time zone Europe/Paris: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Étretat?

Étretat has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 34) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 4). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 20, May half-term 23, Summer holidays 34, October half-term 6, Christmas holidays 4.

Near Étretat

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Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Étretat's – good alternatives.

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  2. 87% similar7OstendBelgium15°15°Best time: Aug
  3. 87% similar9CalaisFrance15°16°Best time: Jul – Aug
  4. 87% similar46SouthamptonUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: May – Sep