Fort Fisher Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.90° N 77.95° W

Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fort Fisher sea temperature is
29.0° C
0.8° 

Fort Fisher surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Fort Fisher surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 5s period, SSE swell with 112 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with S 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fort Fisher in the next 16 days are 1.5m 5s 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 1.7m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 23rd Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 23rd Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Most Powerful 2PM (Fri 24th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 5s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m looking at the whole 16-day window for Fort Fisher, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s pretty grim. The first real surf worth mentioning doesn’t show up until the morning of Thursday the 24th, and even then it’s a struggle. For the first few days, from the 20th through the 23rd, we’ve got tiny, weak swell with energy barely cracking 30 (combined energy 9 down to 16), and the wind is mostly cross-off from the southwest, which is fine for the surface but there’s just nothing to ride. So that’s almost a week of nothing.

The best chance for any kind of wave comes on Friday the 24th. The swell picks up to 4ft, coming from the SSE with a short period of 6 seconds – that’s all windswell, no groundswell. The energy jumps to 142 (combined energy), which is moderate. But the wind is the problem. In the morning, it’s a moderate cross-onshore from the NNE at 12 mph, making it choppy. By the afternoon, it switches to onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions.” At 4ft, it’s not too big for intermediates, but the short period and onshore wind mean it’s going to be messy. For a beach and reef setup like Fort Fisher, this is more of a kite-surfing day than a clean paddle session.

The rest of the window is a tease. Morning of Sunday the 26th has a glassy moment with 2ft swell from the ESE, but with combined energy of 36, it’s weak. After that, we’re back to tiny, inconsistent fluff – 1.0ft, 0.7ft, even 0.3ft – right through to the end on the 4th of August. The period never gets longer than 9 seconds, so there’s no real power. The energy is weak, often in the single digits or low teens (combined energy 3 to 38). The wind is sometimes glassy or light offshore, which would be perfect if there was any swell, but there isn’t.

Water temperature is about 84°, which is a degree warmer than the long-term average for this time of year – a bit notable, but not crazy.

Bottom line: Fort Fisher is a bust for the next 16 days. There’s no standout session. The only day with enough size to get you out of bed is the 24th, but the wind and short period ruin it. If you’re looking for a paddle, you’re out of luck. The conditions are better suited for a kite or a longboard in the glassy moments if you’re desperate, but the energy just isn’t there. It tends not to stay this poor for long around here, so keep an eye on the forecast – things can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 28°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.3
SE
7
1.3
S
6
1.5
S
6
1.6
S
6
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
1
S
5
1.2
SSE
6
1.2
S
5
0.7
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6
6
9
0
0
0
20
24
23
17
16
55
91
77
54
51
50
37
36
35
20
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
25
SSW
25
SW
30
SW
35
SSW
35
SSW
30
SW
35
SSW
30
SSW
20
SW
10
SSW
10
WNW
20
NNE
20
ENE
15
E
20
NE
15
ENE
5
NE
5
NNW
15
S
10
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-off
High Tide
1:27PM1.50m
1:36AM1.38m
2:16PM1.52m
2:23AM1.34m
3:04PM1.53m
3:12AM1.31m
3:54PM1.54m
4:02AM1.29m
4:44PM1.55m
4:54AM1.28m
5:35PM1.55m
5:45AM1.28m
6:24PM1.56m
Low Tide
7:10PM0.17m
7:24AM0.04m
8:06PM0.22m
8:12AM0.07m
9:02PM0.23m
9:01AM0.09m
9:56PM0.22m
9:50AM0.10m
10:47PM0.20m
10:38AM0.10m
11:36PM0.18m
11:26AM0.09m
00:24AM0.16m
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:21
8:20
8:19
8:19
8:17
8:17
8:16
 mm
3
1
2
1
1
2
8
6
6
13
2
2
2
2
Temp °C
29
30
28
29
29
28
29
29
28
29
30
27
24
26
26
25
23
24
25
26
27
Feels °C
30
31
29
29
28
28
29
28
28
30
33
31
25
27
28
25
22
25
28
29
30
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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