
Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NE swell with 62 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM. 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 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
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 couple of weeks for our local stretch and, well, it’s pretty grim. There’s barely a ripple to get excited about, so we’re looking at a long stretch of flatness.
For the first few days, up through the end of next week, it’s a wasteland. From Friday the 17th all the way through Thursday the 23rd of July, you’re chasing ankle-biters. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.3ft to 1ft, and the wind is either cross-off or just messy. The combined energy is pathetic, barely hitting double digits – we’re talking 7 to 34 (weak energy). Conditions are clean, but there’s no power behind it. It’s a skip-the-session kind of run.
Then we get a little pulse on Friday the 24th of July. Fort Fisher picks up a bit of short-period windswell from the ENE, pushing to about 4ft to 5ft. The period is short, only 6 seconds, so it’s weak and lumpy. The combined energy jumps to 109 then 180 (moderate wave energy), but it’s all blown out by that fresh cross-onshore wind. It’s lumpy, messy, and not really worth paddling out for. More of a kite-surfing breeze than a clean surf day.
After that, it drops right back down. From Saturday the 25th of July all the way through the end of the forecast on August 1st, we’re back to tiny, weak swell. Small 0.7ft to 3ft waves, mostly from the ESE or S, with energy levels barely cracking 84. The winds are a mix of cross-off and occasional offshore, but the swell just isn’t there. Tuesday the 28th of July morning even has a glassy window, but on 1ft of swell, that’s just a flat, pretty lake.
Honestly, there’s no standout. The best on offer is that Friday the 24th, but only if you’re desperate for a wallow. Even then, the crowds at Fort Fisher are often a problem, and with that onshore wind, it’s a no-go. We’ve got a solid 16-day gap where the surf is just not on. It happens in this area, but it never stays poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 28°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 82mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon morning, strong winds from the SSW by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | E 13 | ESE 8 | S 7 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 30 | 37 | |
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 | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:48AM1.43m | 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 | 4:31PM-0.06m | 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 | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 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 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 6 | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 70 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
Temp °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 27 |
Feels °C | 34 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | ESE 8 | S 7 | E 12 | E 12 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | — | S 7 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 7 |
6 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | — | — | 6 | 131 | 3 | 3 | 81 | 79 | 9 | — | 107 | 17 | 126 | 69 | 39 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | E 6 | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | E 13 | — | — | E 12 | — | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 |
1 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 9 | — | — | 18 | — | 20 | 16 | 30 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | E 14 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSW 7 | W 3 | S 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | S 7 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 5 |
5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 131 | 131 | 157 | 5 | 153 | 160 | — | 132 | 98 | 317 | 192 | 126 | 245 | — | 4 | 37 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2018 | 1588 | 1596 | 1596 | 572 | 450 | 505 | 319 | 35 | 16 | 989 | 380 | 1663 | 1235 | 441 | 547 | 505 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 368 |
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










