
Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, S swell with 188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with SE 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s see what’s on the cards.
Gonna level with you—this is a grim outlook for Fortress. Over the next 16 days, the swell just doesn’t have the size or direction to line up properly with this place. The optimum swell direction is from the SE, but almost every pulse we see is coming from the SSE or S, and that mismatch really kills it. The combined energy of all swells is mostly weak to moderate, bouncing around the 40–146 range, so there’s never any real push behind the waves.
The first half of the period, from Wednesday 29th July right through to early August, is full of poor conditions. Winds are mostly messy—cross, cross-on, or cross-off with moderate to fresh breezes, and occasional light rain or storms. On Friday 31st July morning, there’s a brief window with WNW offshore wind at 6 mph, and a little 3ft SSE groundswell with a period of 9 seconds (moderate energy at 109). It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. That’s about as good as it gets, and even then it’s barely worth paddling out.
We then hit a long gap with no real recommendations for many days. The swell stays tiny, often under 2ft, and winds are either onshore or cross-shore, particularly through the first week of August. Thursday 6th August morning has a little 3ft SSW swell with W wind just off the shore and light breeze—energy at 55, surfable but nothing to get excited about. Again, very ordinary.
Tuesday 4th August morning offers a clean window with WNW offshore wind at 6 mph, and a 3ft S swell (period 7s, energy 100), but that direction still doesn’t suit Fortress’s optimum SE exposure.
There is simply no standout session. The only chance to get a wave is on those few mornings with light offshore winds and small swell, but the quality is poor. If you’re a beginner and just want a splash, maybe Friday 31st July morning or Tuesday 4th August morning—but don’t expect much.
The water temperature is 69°F with a -2° anomaly—so a bit colder than normal for the time of year. For a reef break that’s fairly consistent and exposed, you’d normally expect more, but the swell direction is just off.
Short story: There’s nothing worth chasing here. A blank run is more normal for this pattern. Forecasts can always change, but for now, give it a miss.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 18°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Wed night, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Sun night, min 20°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 7 | S 5 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
107 | 153 | 168 | 144 | 85 | 103 | 68 | 85 | 99 | 102 | 40 | 72 | 88 | 93 | 146 | 124 | 127 | 100 | 77 | 33 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:45PM0.88m | 9:12AM0.76m | 9:12PM0.87m | 9:42AM0.79m | 9:42PM0.86m | 10:13AM0.82m | 10:15PM0.84m | 10:47AM0.84m | 10:53PM0.80m | 11:24AM0.86m | 11:36PM0.76m | 12:08PM0.87m | 00:24AM0.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:40AM0.04m | 2:31PM0.11m | 3:11AM0.02m | 3:12PM0.10m | 3:43AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.10m | 4:17AM0.02m | 4:38PM0.11m | 4:55AM0.03m | 5:27PM0.13m | 5:36AM0.05m | 6:22PM0.15m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | |
8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SE 9 | S 7 | S 8 | SE 9 | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
107 | 153 | 168 | 144 | 85 | 103 | 68 | 85 | 99 | 3 | 40 | 72 | 3 | — | — | 124 | 127 | 100 | 77 | 33 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ENE 6 | — | E 6 | — | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | E 5 | SSE 10 | SE 7 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | SE 8 |
7 | 11 | — | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | SE 10 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 5 | NNE 3 | NE 5 | — | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | S 8 | S 4 | — | S 7 | S 5 | S 6 | — | NNW 2 | — | SW 2 | SSW 4 |
— | — | 11 | 9 | 10 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 102 | 8 | — | 88 | 93 | 146 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 25 | 0 | 38 | 9 | 9 | 801 | 9 | 801 | 1463 | 38 | 185 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Long Island New York | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










