Fortress Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.02° N 71.96° W

Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fortress sea temperature is
21.2° C
0.9° 

Fortress surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Fortress surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSW swell with 145 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fortress this week:

The surf forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sat 8th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 6s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 9th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sun 9th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

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.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
5
0.7
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
1.3
SSW
6
1
S
7
0.9
SSW
7
0.7
S
6
0.6
S
6
0.6
S
6
0.8
SSW
6
0.8
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
0.7
S
6
0.6
S
6
0.6
SSW
6
0.6
S
6
0.5
S
6
0.4
SSW
5
0.4
SSW
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
28
34
57
115
89
79
38
24
23
46
42
43
32
24
25
23
15
9
12
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
15
W
25
SW
15
WSW
15
W
25
WSW
15
NW
5
SW
20
SSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
20
SSW
15
NW
10
WNW
20
WNW
10
N
5
N
10
W
10
NW
Wind State
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
off
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
High Tide
3:44AM0.66m
4:31PM0.93m
5:09AM0.69m
5:47PM0.98m
6:20AM0.77m
6:49PM1.02m
7:18AM0.85m
7:42PM1.05m
8:09AM0.92m
8:30PM1.05m
8:57AM0.98m
9:15PM1.02m
Low Tide
10:10PM0.14m
9:33AM0.09m
11:19PM0.09m
10:45AM0.05m
00:15AM0.02m
11:51AM0.01m
1:04AM-0.03m
12:50PM-0.04m
1:49AM-0.08m
1:44PM-0.07m
2:30AM-0.10m
2:34PM-0.08m
3:10AM-0.09m
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:52
7:52
7:51
7:49
 mm
6
1
12
Temp °C
27
25
28
28
27
31
30
23
26
26
26
27
24
22
25
25
21
24
20
Feels °C
27
27
27
30
28
29
29
24
24
27
27
28
27
23
24
24
20
23
20
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Fortress Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Fortress provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fortress can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fortress 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 (Fortress) 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 Fortress 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.

Fortress is 39 km (24 miles) from New London. If you plan a vacation in Long Island New York, look for hotels and other accommodation in New London. New London has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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