Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, ESE swell with 65 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 5s. 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 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) 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 0.8m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Fortress over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of very small, weak surf with average to poor conditions, so expectations need to be dialed right back. There’s a real gap in quality here, with nothing that screams "go-time" for the first week-and-a-half.
The forecast kicks off on Wednesday, the 26th of August, but it’s not good. We’ve got a tiny 2 ft swell from the SE with a short period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 44 (low energy), and while the wind is light and offshore, the surf is just too small and weak to get excited about. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday get a bit more wind, choppy, and still poor.
Friday the 28th of August is the first time we see a glimmer of something rideable. The morning has a 2 ft swell from the ESE with a light cross-offshore breeze. The wave energy is still low at 76 (moderate wave energy), and the score is just a 1. It’s surfable but very ordinary. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
We then fall into a flat spell from the 30th of August through to the 2nd of September, with swell dropping to 1 ft and very weak energy figures in the tens. Not worth paddling out for.
The next potential highlight is on Wednesday afternoon, the 2nd of September. Swell pushes to 2 ft from the SE, the period stretching to 11 seconds, and the combined energy finally hits a moderate 103 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and cross-off, making for clean conditions. The score is a 1 again. It’s the best we’ve seen, but it’s still marginal.
The 3rd of September sees a morning onshore breeze with a 2 ft swell, but the energy is moderate at 122 (moderate wave energy). The afternoon goes cross-shore and choppy with a bumpy 3 ft swell from the ENE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s poor.
After that, from the 4th of September all the way through to the 10th of September, we’re back to small, weak, and mostly poor or choppy conditions. There’s a moment on Wednesday morning, the 9th of September, with glassy conditions and a 1 ft SE swell, but no energy to speak of at 28 (weak energy). A tease of a clean surface with nothing underneath.
The only true standout, if you can call it that, is the afternoon of Wednesday, the 2nd of September. The Fortress is a reef break, and with a bit of period and a clean cross-off breeze, it might offer a few fun ones for the beginners who just want to get wet. The swell direction is from the SE, which is not the optimum SE direction, but it’s the only real window in a very lean forecast.
Stay patient, it’s a quiet run for this spot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu night, light winds from the SW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | 39 | 47 | 62 | 65 | 50 | 52 | 47 | 55 | 32 | 44 | 40 | 33 | 14 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:34AM0.74m | 7:45PM0.87m | 8:07AM0.80m | 8:14PM0.88m | 8:37AM0.85m | 8:44PM0.89m | 9:07AM0.89m | 9:17PM0.88m | 9:40AM0.92m | 9:54PM0.86m | 10:17AM0.94m | 10:34PM0.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:04AM0.11m | 12:53PM0.14m | 1:34AM0.06m | 1:34PM0.10m | 2:05AM0.02m | 2:14PM0.06m | 2:37AM-0.01m | 2:55PM0.05m | 3:11AM-0.02m | 3:38PM0.04m | 3:47AM-0.01m | 4:22PM0.05m | 4:26AM0.01m | ||||||
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
7:31 | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 |
8 | 39 | 47 | 62 | 65 | 50 | 49 | 19 | 23 | 32 | 44 | 40 | 33 | 11 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SSW 5 | — | S 6 | — | — | E 11 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 6 | SSW 6 | — | — | SE 17 | SE 6 |
17 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 47 | 55 | 19 | 40 | 17 | 20 | 14 | 10 | — | — | 12 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | E 10 | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 |
3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 6 | SSW 4 | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | — | — | — | NE 2 | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — |
— | — | 9 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 52 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 20 | 24 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 2 | 1117 | 10 | 163 | 1117 | 167 | 0 | 9 | 25 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 678 | 675 | 675 | 1475 | 2 | 15 |
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.











