Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 76 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fort Fisher this week:
The surf forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fort Fisher in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
It’s looking like a tough stretch for Fort Fisher. We’ve got a real dry spell on our hands, so let’s not sugarcoat it. The whole 16-day outlook is pretty quiet, with barely a whisper of proper surf. The first few days are a write-off. From Sunday the 16th right through to Monday the 31st, the wave comment is almost always “poor surf conditions,” so you’re not missing much.
The water temp is sitting right around 83°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t be a shock to the system.
Let’s look at the best of a bad bunch. The only real standout that might get your heart beating a little is on Tuesday the 18th, in the morning. The wind goes glassy, with a light breeze from the ENE at 3 mph, and we get a long-period swell of 1 ft from the SE at 12 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 54, so it’s not going to have any grunt, but the glassy conditions and the longer period mean the little waves might have a bit of shape. It’s a beach and reef setup, so that longer period groundswell could wrap around a bit. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have some company. For a spot that’s inconsistent, this is the best you’re going to get. It’s tiny, though, so keep your expectations low.
Beyond that, there’s a little blip on Thursday the 27th, morning. The swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SE at 9 seconds, with a combined energy of 189 (moderate). The wind is light from the east, but it’s onshore, so it’ll be messy. Still, if you’re desperate, it’s the biggest swell of the window. That’s about it.
Honestly, if you’re not desperate to paddle out, the kites might have more fun with the consistent cross-off winds later in the fortnight. The surf is pretty much flat or poor for the whole 16 days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 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 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 5 | ENE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 35 | 75 | 65 | 58 | 32 | 30 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 42 | 26 | 15 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:10AM1.54m | 11:23PM1.47m | 12:01PM1.54m | 00:11AM1.41m | 12:50PM1.53m | 00:59AM1.37m | 1:39PM1.53m | 1:48AM1.34m | 2:28PM1.52m | 2:38AM1.32m | 3:19PM1.52m | 3:29AM1.31m | 4:11PM1.53m | 4:21AM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:57PM0.09m | 5:14AM0.03m | 5:45PM0.18m | 5:54AM0.09m | 6:36PM0.26m | 6:36AM0.16m | 7:30PM0.31m | 7:22AM0.20m | 8:26PM0.34m | 8:14AM0.23m | 9:20PM0.34m | 9:08AM0.22m | 10:13PM0.32m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 11 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | E 4 | ESE 8 |
11 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 75 | 65 | 58 | 32 | 30 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 4 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | SE 9 | E 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | NE 4 | — | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 14 | ESE 9 | S 5 | ENE 4 |
4 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | S 4 | — | — | E 6 | SE 13 | SE 12 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 15 | SE 15 | — | SE 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 |
1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 7 | 35 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | — | 7 | 15 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | E 4 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 5 | ENE 3 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | WSW 5 | — | ESE 3 | E 5 | ENE 4 | — | S 5 |
5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 29 | — | 8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 26 | 21 | — | 3 | 42 | 26 | — | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 559 | 2524 | 1718 | 505 | 659 | 305 | 0 | 613 | 12 | 38 | 823 | 724 | 70 | 988 | 939 | 309 | 505 | 12 | 292 | 295 | 504 |
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











