Fortress Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.02° N 71.96° W

Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fortress sea temperature is
19.7° C
1.9° 

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


Fortress surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, SSE swell with 260 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with SSE 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Thu 30th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf 2PM (Thu 30th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 2PM (Thu 30th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s

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 menu for the next couple of weeks at Fortress.

To be straight up with you, the outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions. The pattern is dominated by a mix of small, weak swell and winds that are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, keeping things choppy and messy. The water’s sitting at 68°F, which is a bit colder than you'd expect for this time of year.

For the first week, from Friday the 24th of July right through to the end of the month, it’s pretty grim. The swell is small, mostly under 3ft, and the period is short, around 6 to 8 seconds, so there’s just no energy or shape to the waves. The combined swell energy is weak, and with the wind always blowing from the wrong direction, it’s a write-off. There’s a glimmer of hope on Monday the 27th morning with glassy conditions, but the swell is only 2ft and the energy is a paltry 41 – barely a ripple.

The run of poor conditions continues through the first week of August. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd offer nothing but small, choppy slop. The swell starts to pick up a little around Monday the 3rd, hitting 3ft from the south with a 9-second period and moderate energy, but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be pretty.

Now, let’s talk about the best of a bad bunch. It’s not much, but there are a couple of moments that might be worth a look if you're desperate. On Tuesday the 4th of August in the morning, we get a clean window. The wind goes light from the northwest, giving us a cross-offshore breeze and clean conditions. The swell is 3ft from the SSE with an 8-second period, and the energy is moderate. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

Then on Thursday the 6th of August, the morning is glassy once again, with a light southwest wind. The swell is 3ft from the SSW, but the period is a short 5 seconds, so it’s a bit of a bumpy, windswell-type wave. The energy is weak. It’s another “surfable but ordinary” window.

Honestly, there’s no standout session here. The best on offer is the clean windows on the 4th and 6th of August, but even then, the swell is small and unremarkable. The later part of the forecast, around the 8th of August, shows a slightly bigger swell of 4ft to 5ft, but the wind is back onshore, ruining it. For a reef break like Fortress, you need that clean, offshore wind to really make it work, and we just don't get that consistently.

For a break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the south-east, this is a disappointing run. It’s a reef, so when it’s on, it can be good, but with the wind and small swell, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddling paradise on most days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SE
6
0.4
SE
8
0.8
SE
7
1
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
6
1.1
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
8
0.8
ESE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.6
SE
7
0.6
SE
7
0.9
SSE
8
1.3
SSE
6
1
S
6
1
SSE
7
1
S
6
0.5
S
6
0.7
SSE
8
1.1
SSE
10
1.1
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
33
19
65
88
121
99
101
67
46
35
34
44
107
106
69
96
86
18
65
240
206
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
15
SE
10
ENE
20
ENE
20
ESE
20
NNE
20
NE
15
ESE
15
NE
5
ENE
20
S
15
S
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
15
SE
15
S
15
SSE
5
ESE
10
NNE
20
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross
High Tide
5:25PM0.79m
5:36AM0.56m
6:18PM0.81m
6:33AM0.60m
7:03PM0.83m
7:21AM0.64m
7:42PM0.85m
8:03AM0.69m
8:16PM0.87m
8:39AM0.73m
8:45PM0.88m
9:12AM0.76m
9:12PM0.87m
Low Tide
9:41AM0.21m
11:38PM0.22m
10:42AM0.21m
00:23AM0.19m
11:36AM0.19m
1:02AM0.15m
12:24PM0.16m
1:36AM0.10m
1:08PM0.14m
2:09AM0.07m
1:50PM0.12m
2:40AM0.04m
2:31PM0.11m
3:11AM0.02m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
thunderstorm
clear
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:35
5:35
5:37
5:37
5:39
5:39
5:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:12
8:10
8:09
8:08
8:07
8:07
8:06
 mm
1
1
3
11
3
Temp °C
21
21
21
19
20
20
19
21
20
19
21
21
21
22
22
22
23
22
22
23
22
Feels °C
20
19
18
16
17
17
16
21
19
21
20
20
21
22
21
23
24
24
24
25
23
  • 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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