Surf Forecasts:
Fort Fisher surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with 49 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 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 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 | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fort Fisher over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what we’ve got for Fort Fisher over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. The water’s warm, about 85°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s where the good news ends. The swell is tiny for most of the run, and it’s coming in from the ESE or SE, which doesn't line up well with Fort Fisher’s best direction. The wind is almost never doing us favours, and for days on end, the surf is just flat out poor. There’s a long gap from now until late August or early September with nothing worth paddling out for.
We finally see a faint glimmer on the morning of Tuesday, 1st September. The wind is light offshore from the WSW, the swell is a meagre 1ft from the ESE, but it’s a long-period groundswell at 15 seconds. The combined energy is still only moderate (115), and the surf is described as “surfable but very ordinary.” If you are desperate for a slide, this is the closest you get to a session, but don't expect much.
The strongest energy in the whole run hits on the morning of Thursday, 3rd September, with combined energy up to 193 and a slight bump in height to 3ft from the ESE, period around 12 seconds. But with a moderate cross-off breeze from the SW, it’s still marked as poor conditions. That’s frustrating.
The only real standout, and I mean the *only* one worth a mention, is the late afternoon on Sunday, 6th September. The wind goes completely glassy – calm, no breeze at all. The swell is 3ft from the ENE with a short period of 7 seconds, but the combined energy is moderate at 149. That glassy window is rare, and it will make those tiny waves as clean as they can be. You’d be surfing for the feeling, not the size, but it’s the best on offer across the whole 16 days.
After that, the run tails off into tiny leftovers. There’s a brief chance on the morning of Tuesday, 8th September with a gentle offshore wind from the WSW and 2ft from the E (period 9 seconds, energy 69), but it’s again just described as “surfable but very ordinary.”
All in all, this is a lean period. The surf just isn’t showing up with any real consistency or size. If you’re a dedicated local, keep an eye on that glassy Sunday afternoon, but otherwise, it might be a good time to clean the board and wait for the next proper swell.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 5 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 21 | 12 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 31 | 42 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:53PM1.56m | 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 | 10:53AM0.18m | 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 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 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 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | S 5 | SE 10 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
3 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 28 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 10 | 26 | 24 | 31 | 42 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | E 7 | SE 10 | S 5 | E 6 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | SE 6 | E 10 | SW 4 | E 9 | E 9 |
13 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 1 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | SW 5 | E 7 | E 6 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 8 | — | — | S 6 | — | SE 5 | E 10 | — | E 10 | — | — |
5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | SW 4 | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | — | S 4 | S 3 | — | SW 4 | — |
— | 21 | 22 | — | 11 | 3 | — | 7 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 55 | 46 | 32 | 22 | — | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 267 | 543 | 559 | 64 | 1171 | 130 | 908 | 961 | 441 | 311 | 367 | 517 | 70 | 368 | 70 | 257 | 1588 | 745 | 296 | 952 | 708 |
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











