Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, SE swell with 35 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 0.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11AM. 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 (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk Fort Fisher in feet and miles. To be straight with you, it's a pretty flat and ordinary run for the most part. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak surf with very little to get excited about. The combined energy is almost always in the low double digits (31 to 47), which tells you it's weak, and the swell height just doesn't get above 2ft until we're deep into September. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing special.
The first solid week, from Tuesday the 25th of August right through to the end of the month, is a total washout. You're getting tiny 1ft waves from the southeast with short periods under 11 seconds, and the wind is either cross-on or straight onshore most of the time, making for choppy, messy conditions. There are a couple of moments with glassy conditions, like Saturday morning the 29th and Monday morning the 31st, but the swell is so small and weak you'd be lucky to get a ride. It's just poor.
We then have a gap of almost no improvement through the start of September. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of September finally see the combined energy bump up a little into the 80s and 90s, but we're still on 1ft surf. The wind turns offshore or cross-off those mornings, which cleans things up, but the waves are described as "surfable but very ordinary." It's a step up, but not a standout.
The first proper hint of something better shows up on Saturday the 5th of September. The morning is okay with a 2ft easterly swell and offshore wind, but it's the afternoon that starts to look more interesting. We get a 3ft swell from the east with a 12-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 263 – moderate energy at last. The wind goes cross-off, so it'll be clean. That's the best looking window so far.
The true standout, the only thing worth planning for, is Sunday the 6th of September. Fort Fisher is a beach and reef setup, and with this swell direction from the east, it should line up nicely. The morning has a 2ft swell, 12-second period, with light offshore breeze (WSW at 3 mph), so it'll be clean. But the afternoon is the real gem. The swell holds at 2ft from the east, 12-second period, and the wind goes glassy with a slight air from the SSE. That's going to be clean, smooth, and the best conditions we've seen in this entire forecast. The combined energy is 149, moderate, but the quality of the conditions makes it the pick.
After that, Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th of September see a return to choppy cross-onshore winds and dropping energy, so get it while you can. Remember, Fort Fisher can be inconsistent, so when a window like that Sunday afternoon opens up, you go.
Alright, keep your eyes on that Sunday the 6th. I'll be there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 35 | 26 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 6:04AM1.36m | 6:40PM1.57m | 6:51AM1.39m | 7:21PM1.58m | 7:33AM1.42m | 7:58PM1.58m | 8:11AM1.45m | 8:29PM1.57m | 8:43AM1.48m | 8:56PM1.56m | 9:11AM1.52m | 9:23PM1.53m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:49PM0.25m | 11:44AM0.16m | 00:34AM0.21m | 12:33PM0.14m | 1:17AM0.16m | 1:20PM0.12m | 1:58AM0.12m | 2:06PM0.11m | 2:36AM0.08m | 2:51PM0.12m | 3:13AM0.05m | 3:36PM0.13m | 3:49AM0.03m | ||||||
— | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
7:47 | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
17 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 16 | 26 | 26 | 35 | 26 | 23 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 5 | E 10 | SSW 4 | E 9 | E 9 |
12 | 29 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 14 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | — | — | — |
8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | NNE 2 | — | — | — | E 3 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 4 | SW 4 | SSW 2 | SSW 2 |
12 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 15 | 27 | 51 | 36 | 41 | 21 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 257 | 70 | 1171 | 559 | 908 | 939 | 517 | 613 | 1235 | 367 | 38 | 13 | 70 | 13 | 257 | 894 | 143 | 1779 | 1654 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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











