Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this one. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for Fortress. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf ahead, and you’re going to need to be patient if you want to get wet.

The good news is we have a little bit of action to start. The wave energy kicks off on Thursday the 6th with a small 2ft SSW swell, but it’s pretty weak, coming in at 49. The wind is a cross-off, so it’s not a total loss, but the quality is just poor. We are looking at 2ft with a 6-second period, which is just not enough to get excited about. The water temp is 69°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want the hood or at least a decent suit.

The whole first week through the 13th is going to be a grind. We’ll bounce between 1ft and 3ft, with energy mostly stuck in the low double-digits or under 100. There will be some clean mornings, like the 10th when it goes totally glassy, but the swell is only 2ft at a short 6-second period. It’s just not doing anything for us. The winds are mostly cross-off or offshore at times, so it’ll be smooth, but the lack of size is the story. This is a period for checking the cam, not rushing to the water.

There’s a real dead zone from the 14th to the 20th. Swell drops to 1ft to 2ft, and the energy numbers are in the teens and twenties. That’s basically nothing. You see that the swell direction tries to swing to the SE with a period of 9 seconds, but with that tiny size, it’s not worth paddling out for. The wind stays mostly cross-off, but we even see a strong, lumpy cross-shore on the afternoon of the 19th that would just chop things up further. Honestly, if you’re into kitesurfing, the beach setup with these cross-off winds and small waves might be more interesting than trying to surf.

Finally, on Friday the 21st, we get a pulse. The combined energy jumps to 151, which feels moderate, and we get a summary swell height of 4ft from the south with a 6-second period. It’s still pretty junky and only rated as ‘surfable but ordinary’. The light cross-off wind in the morning will keep it clean. There’s an afternoon option too, but the swell drops back down to 2ft. This is your best window, but it’s not the classic day. It’s a small, weak wave that’ll be best for a longboard. Don’t expect any barrels.

So, to sum it up: you have a very long, flat stretch ahead. The only real chance to get a few waves is on Friday the 21st, which is over two weeks away. It’s a long-range call, so you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt, but it’s something to keep an eye on. For now, wax up the log and find something else to do.

- Rusty

Read more