
Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 7s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, SE swell with 107 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 7s period with ESE 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 (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore 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 (Aug 03) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – I’ve looked over the next 16 days for Fort Fisher, and honestly, it’s a tough one. There’s no real swell to speak of for the entire period. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until Tuesday, August 4th, but even then, it’s nothing to get excited about.
We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions. The combined wave energy is weak, stuck in the double digits for most of the run, with the highest reading hitting just 91 (weak energy) on Saturday morning, August 8th. The swell is tiny, mostly from the SE or ESE, with short periods between 5 and 9 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell – it’s going to be weak and crumbly. The water temp is sitting at 83°F, which is about average for the time of year, with no real anomaly to speak of.
The wind is the real killer here. For the first week, it’s mostly cross-off or cross-shore from the SSW or S, blowing at 9 to 19 mph. That’s gonna put a lot of chop on the surface.
Tuesday, August 4th, is the first day we see any surf, but it’s only 2ft from the ESE with a 7-second period. The wind is cross-off in the morning, but the quality is just poor. The combined energy is a measly 36. That’s not a session.
Wednesday, August 5th, the morning bumps up to 3ft from the SE, but with a 6-second period, it’s just a messy, choppy windswell. The energy hits 68, still weak. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not going to be clean.
The rest of the first week and into the second week is a whole lot of nothing. We’re talking 1ft to 3ft surf with poor conditions. The wind stays in the cross-off or cross-shore zone, with occasional light offshore breezes from the WNW on Thursday, August 13th, and Friday, August 14th, but there’s barely any swell to clean up.
The most promising morning looks to be Saturday, August 15th, with a light offshore wind from the W at 6 mph, but the swell is only 1ft from the SE. You’d be sitting on your board waiting for a ripple. The same goes for Thursday, August 13th, with a WNW offshore wind, but again, just 1ft.
For a break like Fort Fisher, which is a beach and reef setup and inconsistent, this kind of flat run is pretty normal. It’s a spot that needs a proper push from the NE to get going, and we’re just not seeing it. This setup is honestly more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the consistent cross-off and cross-shore winds with very little wave energy.
Bottom line: don’t bother. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing on the table worth paddling out for.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Tue afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 7 | S 5 | E 11 | SE 6 | E 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 37 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 43 | 27 | 21 | 2 | 40 | 2 | 93 | 90 | 62 | 37 | 36 | 20 | 18 | |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:48AM1.44m | 11:03PM1.45m | 11:43AM1.48m | 00:02AM1.40m | 12:49PM1.52m | 1:09AM1.36m | 1:58PM1.55m | 2:19AM1.32m | 3:09PM1.58m | 3:29AM1.30m | 4:19PM1.61m | 4:38AM1.31m | 5:27PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:19PM0.19m | 5:31AM-0.00m | 6:16PM0.23m | 6:17AM0.00m | 7:25PM0.27m | 7:14AM0.02m | 8:37PM0.27m | 8:21AM0.02m | 9:44PM0.23m | 9:31AM0.01m | 10:47PM0.17m | 10:38AM-0.02m | 11:45PM0.10m | ||||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | |
mm | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 7 | SE 7 | — | SE 6 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 10 | SE 6 | E 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
— | — | — | 36 | 37 | — | 68 | — | 28 | 27 | 18 | 2 | 40 | 2 | 93 | 90 | 62 | 37 | 36 | 20 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 6 | — | SSE 7 | SSW 3 | — | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 |
205 | 202 | 303 | 107 | 49 | 135 | 23 | 77 | 43 | 27 | 21 | 39 | — | 70 | 6 | — | 7 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 25 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 379 | 517 | 108 | 35 | 368 | 368 | 368 | 320 | 778 | 16 | 989 | 989 | 267 | 773 | 0 | 64 | 379 | 368 | 504 | 600 | 514 |
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











