Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s on offer over the next 16 days for the Fortress. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim outlook for most of the run.

The big picture? We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions. The swell energy is mostly in the low double-digits, with a combined energy figure of only 44 (weak) to kick things off. The wind is all over the place, but mostly cross or onshore, chopping up what little wave we have. The first real glimmer of hope doesn't show up until Monday morning, August 17th, so we’re looking at a solid 10-day gap of truly poor surf before that.

The water temperature at the Fortress is sitting at 70°F, which is about 2°F cooler than normal for this time of year—nothing wild, just a slight chill, but it’s something to note.

Friday, August 7th is a write-off. We’re looking at a 2ft swell from the SSW, with a short period of 6 seconds and a cross-shore wind at 15 mph. The combined energy is a paltry 44 (weak). The wave comment says it all: “poor surf conditions.” Not worth paddling out.

Saturday, August 8th sees a slight bump in the morning with a 4ft SSW swell, but the period is still a short 6 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore at 9 mph, which keeps it clean, but the energy is moderate at 171 and the waves are just “surfable but very ordinary.” The afternoon turns worse with the wind picking up to 18 mph. Hard pass.

The rest of the week through to Sunday, August 16th is a total bust. Swell heights hover between 1.0ft and 3ft, periods are short (4 to 7 seconds), and the combined energy rarely cracks 70. The wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, with some glassy periods on Monday, August 10th, but the swell is only 2ft with a 6-second period. It’s just not enough to get excited about.

Now, here’s the one true standout, and it’s a long way off. Monday, August 17th, morning is the only time I’d point a surfer towards Fortress. We get a tiny 1.0ft swell, but it’s from the SE with a long period of 14 seconds, and the wind is offshore from the WNW at 9 mph. The combined energy is 53 (weak), but the conditions are described as “gentle offshore and clean.” That long period (groundswell) will give you some shape and energy, but at 1.0ft, it’s barely rideable. For reef breaks, this long-period groundswell can produce some nice lines, but with such a small size, it’s only for the keenest on a longboard.

Friday, August 21st offers a bit more size with a 4ft SSW swell, but the period is short at 5 seconds. The afternoon session has glassy conditions, which is a plus, but the combined energy is 110 (moderate) and the waves are still “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s not a standout.

So, to wrap it up: the first 10 days are a total loss. The only real window is the morning of Monday, August 17th, with clean, offshore conditions and a touch of long-period groundswell. It’s tiny, but it’s the best we’ve got. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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