As the summer holiday season draws to a close, many holidaymakers are taking advantage of a quieter and more affordable final week in August. However, their peaceful break is poised to be interrupted by a significant weather event, with forecasters issuing warnings for a rare and powerful cyclonic swell expected to hit the coast on Tuesday.

The Appeal of a Late-Season Getaway

With the back-to-school rush just around the corner, a number of visitors have chosen to extend their holidays, drawn by the considerable benefits of late-season travel in Brittany. Tourist hotspots are less crowded, and prices for accommodation have dropped significantly. This is particularly noticeable at campsites, such as those in Saint-Cast-le-Guildo in the Côtes d’Armor region, where holidaymakers are currently enjoying the last days of summer in relative tranquillity and at a much lower cost.

Dramatic Weather Shift on the Horizon

This calm is expected to be short-lived, as Météo-France, the national weather service, has issued a yellow alert for a major weather phenomenon. A cyclonic swell, the remnants of a hurricane that formed off the coast of the United States, is forecast to reach French shores on Tuesday, 26th August 2025. The swell is predicted to generate powerful waves of four to five metres in height along parts of the Brittany coastline, from Côtes-d’Armor to Finistère, and extending south from Charente-Maritime to the Basque Country.

Official Warnings and Safety Advice

In response to the forecast, which is considered a rare event for this time of year, authorities have activated a yellow “high waves and coastal flooding” warning for the entire day. The Finistère prefecture has issued specific safety advice, urging the public to exercise extreme caution. People are strongly advised against walking along the seafront or participating in any water sports. Residents in low-lying coastal areas have been told to monitor the rising sea levels throughout the day and be prepared to move to higher ground if necessary. Furthermore, drivers are being asked to be exceptionally careful when travelling on coastal roads. The yellow alert is also in effect for the departments of Côtes-d’Armor, Landes, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.