Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, S swell with 111 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 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get honest about it. The next 16 days are looking pretty grim for Fort Fisher. I’m looking at wave energy that’s barely a whisper on most days, and the wind is just not playing ball. It’s going to be a long stretch of flat, messy, or just plain poor conditions. There’s a real gap from now all the way through to the end of the month with nothing worth paddling out for. The consistency is a major issue here – this spot is already inconsistent, and this forecast is a perfect example of a bad run.
Let’s walk through it. Starting Thursday, July 16th, we’ve got a tiny 1 ft swell from the SE with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is cross-off or cross, and the wave energy is a weak 22 (Thursday morning). It’s clean, but there’s just no push. That’s the story for the next week. Friday through Sunday the 19th, the swell drops to near zero with energy readings of 7 or even 0. By Monday the 20th, there’s a glassy morning with a 0.3 ft, 12-second groundswell from the E, but the energy is only 9 – it’s a tease. The water temp is 83°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least that’s comfortable.
The pattern doesn’t improve. From the 21st to the 25th, we see a few pulses of 2 ft to 2 ft swell from the SE, but the wind is cross-on or onshore, making it choppy. The energy climbs to 126 on the 23rd afternoon, but that’s moderate energy at best, and with onshore E wind at 12 mph, it’s not going to be any fun. It’s a beach and reef setup, and with this wind and chop, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The last few days of the month and into the 31st, the swell stays tiny, mostly 0.7 ft to 1 ft. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but there’s simply no power. The wave energy is stuck in the teens and twenties. There is no standout session here. The only glimmer is Sunday the 26th afternoon, with a 4 ft swell from the S, the biggest we see, but it’s a short-period 6 seconds, and the energy is only 94 – still weak. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but the short period and poor surf quality label keep it from being a real option.
Bottom line: There’s nothing to recommend. Not a single day offers quality surf. It’s a flat, frustrating outlook. Don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 7 | NE 4 | E 12 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 30 | 41 | 43 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:52AM1.41m | 10:22PM1.60m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:40PM-0.12m | 4:22AM-0.13m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 33 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | — | SE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 16 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | 212 | 100 | 72 | — | — | — | 15 | 56 | 57 | 38 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | E 12 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 41 | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | ESE 9 | — | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 7 | NE 4 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | — | SSW 7 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 21 | 181 | 287 | 459 | 340 | 3 | 128 | 120 | 109 | 284 | 208 | — | 114 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 960 | 827 | 1588 | 1588 | 1588 | 784 | 1596 | 594 | 1654 | 368 | 320 | 12 | 12 | 559 | 319 | 517 | 547 | 70 | 34 | 12 | 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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