
Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, ENE swell with 175 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s break down what’s coming for us here. It’s been flat, it stays flat, and we’re in for a long, quiet stretch.
Right now and for days ahead, the surf is tiny. From Friday the 17th through to the middle of next week, the swell is barely 0.6ft to maybe 1ft from the east-southeast and southeast. The combined wave energy is low – mostly between 7 and 21 – so it’s weak. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, but with that little swell, you’re not looking at anything rideable. It’s flat to knee-high and bumpy.
That run of poor conditions stretches from Friday the 17th all the way through to Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s a week or more of nothing.
The best looking stretch in the whole 16-day outlook is around the 24th and 25th of July, and even then it’s not much. On Saturday the 25th of July there’s a little more energy – the combined energy hits 108, so that’s moderate. The swell is from the east-southeast around 3ft, with a period of 9 seconds – still a short-period swell. The wind is cross-on from the northeast at 12 mph, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. Of everything on offer, that Saturday morning is probably the only time you’d bother paddling out. Crowds are likely at Fort Fisher – it’s a beach and reef break that’s often busy.
After that, we drop back into small, weak surf for the rest of the month and into August. On the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July, the wind goes glassy from the west-southwest at just 3 mph, but the swell is only 1ft – it’s flat. The 30th of July morning has a light offshore from the west-southwest at 12 mph, but again, only 0.3ft of swell. Nothing to work with.
Overall, this is a long, flat stretch. Fort Fisher needs a proper push from the east or northeast to get going, and the forecast isn’t delivering that. For now, this beach and reef setup is looking a lot more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing when the wind is up and the swell is this small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 27°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Thu morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | SSW 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 12 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 56 | 154 | |
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-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 3:54PM1.54m | 4:02AM1.29m | ||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:01AM0.09m | 9:56PM0.22m | |||||||
— | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
8:22 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 9 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 22 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | SE 8 | — | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 8 |
13 | 13 | 6 | — | 128 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | 10 | — | 8 | 18 | 15 | 85 | 28 | 20 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 6 |
— | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 14 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 6 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | N 2 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 |
8 | 7 | 16 | 140 | 195 | 257 | 180 | 73 | 126 | 92 | 66 | 85 | 187 | 206 | 232 | 240 | 1 | 56 | 154 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1588 | 1596 | 705 | 368 | 320 | 659 | 35 | 16 | 946 | 267 | 559 | 2154 | 517 | 559 | 367 | 319 | 267 | 124 | 22 |
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










