
Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, ESE swell with 131 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fort Fisher this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Fort Fisher in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – we’re in for a quiet stretch ahead, no sugarcoating it. Don’t be expecting any fireworks out of Fort Fisher for a while. The models are showing a whole lot of nothing for the next week or so, with only a small spike of energy that still won’t deliver the goods.
The first option to even check is a long way off. We’re looking at the morning of Saturday, July 18th as the first real shift. Before that, it’s days of tiny, messy, onshore slop. The water temp is sitting at 84°F with a 2°F anomaly – so slightly warmer than usual for this time of year, not a game-changer but comfortable. The wind is finally expected to clock offshore from the west early on Wednesday, July 23rd, but even then the wave height is only 2ft. There’s a persistent moderate cross-offshore wind from the SW and SSW through that whole last week of July, which is good for keeping things clean, but the swell just isn't there.
For a real standout, you’d have to pin your hopes on the afternoon of Saturday, July 19th. A 3ft swell from the ESE with a period of 6 seconds. It’s short-period stuff, so not much grunt, but it’s the only blip all month that breaks the mediocre ceiling. The combined swell energy (66) is weak. That midday window on the 19th with a light cross-onshore from the SSE will be the cleanest looking tiny peak you’ll find, but honestly, don't paddle out expecting much.
If you’re an experienced surfer, the morning of Saturday, July 18th *might* be the biggest thing we see. A 5ft swell from the east, period of only 5 seconds. That’s a sloppy, short-period wall of water. With a direct onshore wind from the east at 16 mph, it’s going to be a choppy, bumpy mess – honestly that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. If you’re a beginner, stay out of the water then; 5ft of short-period slop is rough for an intermediate, let alone a newcomer.
The last week of July is just clean but flat. Toddler-sized waves of 0.6ft to 1ft with clean offshore flow. There is a stand-out day for weather on Thursday morning, July 23rd: clear skies, a 2ft swell from the SE, period of 9 seconds, with a 16 mph cross-off wind from the SW. That’s about as good as it gets for this block – clean, tiny, not worth a special trip but the best of a bad bunch.
To sum it up: there is a long, blank run from now all the way to July 18th. Then one mediocre day on Saturday, July 19th, and then another long gap of clean but flat conditions until the run finishes. It’s one of those spells where patience is the only move. Keep the board waxed and wait for the next real swell window – it can’t stay this sleepy forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 4 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
31 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 44 | 42 | 40 | 34 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 129 | 108 | 128 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:41PM1.67m | 6:59AM1.31m | 7:40PM1.69m | 7:58AM1.34m | 8:36PM1.68m | 8:55AM1.37m | 9:30PM1.65m | 9:52AM1.41m | 10:22PM1.60m | 10:48AM1.43m | 11:12PM1.54m | 11:44AM1.45m | 00:01AM1.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:54AM-0.10m | 1:02AM-0.01m | 12:55PM-0.13m | 1:56AM-0.07m | 1:53PM-0.15m | 2:48AM-0.11m | 2:48PM-0.15m | 3:36AM-0.13m | 3:40PM-0.12m | 4:22AM-0.13m | 4:31PM-0.06m | 5:08AM-0.10m | 5:22PM0.02m | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | 8 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
18 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 44 | 42 | 21 | 34 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | E 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — |
31 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 29 | — | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 8 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 5 | — | ENE 2 | E 7 | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | SW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | NNE 2 | E 2 | E 4 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 |
— | 16 | — | 1 | 25 | — | — | 40 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 31 | 39 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 129 | 108 | 128 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 1722 | 124 | 130 | 2154 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 130 | 124 | 267 | 647 | 564 | 586 | 70 | 143 | 143 | 1596 | 151 | 216 | 127 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Fort Fisher Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fort Fisher provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fort Fisher can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fort Fisher 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 (Fort Fisher) 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 Fort Fisher 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.
Are you planning a vacation in North Carolina? If you are looking for accommodation near Fort Fisher, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in North Carolina, consider staying in Wilmington which is 41 km (25 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Myrtle Beach which is 90 km (56 miles) away










