Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with 48 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 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's be straight with you: the next 16 days at Fort Fisher are a complete write-off for any kind of decent paddle surfing. It's a tough one to call, but sometimes you just gotta say it how it is.
From this Friday, the 17th of July, right through to Saturday, the 1st of August, we're looking at a flat spell with no real surf to speak of. The swell heights barely even tickle the 2ft mark, and even then, the energy is pathetic – the combined swell energy barely cracks 80 (83 on the 24th) and for most days it's well under 50, often in the single digits. That's weak, weak stuff.
The winds are a mess too. For most of the first week, we've got moderate to fresh cross-off breezes, which is alright for the wind direction, but there's no swell to work with. Then from the 23rd, it swings around to a cross-on and even onshore flow, making things choppy and lumpy. The water temp is sitting around 83°F, which is pretty normal for the time of year, so it's not that.
The small bumps we do see – like the 2ft to 2ft on the 24th and 25th – are coming from the ESE and SE with a short period of 8 to 9 seconds. That's just windswell, no push, no shape. And with the wind all over the shop, it's going to be a mess. Honestly, a setup like this with a beach and reef mix, some of those onshore days might be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.
The second week doesn't offer any hope either. A few 1ft to 1ft days with glassy or light cross-off conditions on the 1st of August might look clean, but there's just no wave energy to ride. The combined energy on those days is still in the teens. Forget it.
There's no standout here, no hidden gem. It's a full 16-day blank. Sometimes you get a run like this – it's just how it goes. We'll keep an eye on it, but for now, I'd be finding something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 27°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | E 13 | SE 8 | E 12 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 23 | 16 | 15 | 28 |
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-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:48AM1.43m | 11:12PM1.54m | 11:44AM1.45m | 00:01AM1.48m | 12:37PM1.48m | 00:48AM1.43m | 1:27PM1.50m | 1:36AM1.38m | 2:16PM1.52m | 2:23AM1.34m | 3:04PM1.53m | 3:12AM1.31m | 3:54PM1.54m | 4:02AM1.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:31PM-0.06m | 5:08AM-0.10m | 5:22PM0.02m | 5:52AM-0.06m | 6:15PM0.11m | 6:38AM-0.01m | 7:10PM0.17m | 7:24AM0.04m | 8:06PM0.22m | 8:12AM0.07m | 9:02PM0.23m | 9:01AM0.09m | 9:56PM0.22m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 7 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 14 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | S 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | — | 3 | 152 | 2 | 6 | 101 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 23 | 88 | 51 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | E 13 | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 15 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 131 | 128 | 176 | 282 | 91 | 113 | 177 | 91 | 182 | 261 | 187 | 226 | 247 | — | 8 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2135 | 1588 | 1596 | 1654 | 662 | 368 | 320 | 309 | 13 | 70 | 559 | 559 | 1895 | 531 | 341 | 547 | 367 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 124 |
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
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