
Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, E swell with 71 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what this 16-day window is serving up for us. I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with very little on offer, so patience is the name of the game.
The forecast kicks off with nothing for days. The first real chance of a wave comes on Sunday the 13th, but it’s nothing to get excited about. That morning, the wind is offshore from the west at 6 mph, which will clean things up nicely. We’ve got a short-period 3 ft swell from the SSE, but the period is only 5 seconds – that’s wind swell, all push and no shape. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The afternoon cleans up with a light cross-offshore breeze, and the swell drops a touch to 3 ft.
After that, it goes quiet again. From Monday the 14th all the way through to Sunday the 21st, we’re looking at poor surf conditions, with tiny waves and often onshore or cross-onshore winds. It’s a frustrating stretch. There are a few days where the swell bumps up but the wind is too strong or in the wrong direction to make it work.
Then, a real change arrives on Monday the 21st. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the ENE, with a period of 6 seconds. However, the wind is howling from the NE at 28 mph, blowing strong cross-onshore. It’s messy out there. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the wind is just too strong for a clean session.
Things get even more serious later in the week. On Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th, the swell builds. By Thursday afternoon, we’ve got a 6 ft swell from the ESE with a 9-second period. That’s strong wave energy. But the wind is a near-gale from the NE at 37 mph, blowing cross-onshore and completely blowing it out. The water is going to be a washing machine. This is expert territory only, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. After that, the energy drops off again, with strong winds persisting.
The standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Sunday the 13th. It’s the only time in the whole forecast where we get clean conditions and a wave that’s rideable, even if it’s junky. The water temperature is sitting around 70°, which is about average for this time of year.
Keep your eyes on the longer range, but honestly, that Sunday morning is your best bet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Sun night, fresh winds from the NNE by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu night, min 14°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Tue morning, calm by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 6 | E 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | 14 | 24 | 33 | 37 | 24 | 20 | 49 | 20 | 71 | 50 | 57 | 54 | 60 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 9:14AM1.04m | 9:28PM0.91m | 9:53AM1.02m | 10:02PM0.85m | 10:31AM0.98m | 10:34PM0.79m | 11:08AM0.92m | 11:06PM0.73m | 11:46AM0.85m | 11:40PM0.67m | 12:26PM0.79m | 00:22AM0.62m | 1:16PM0.74m | 1:14AM0.59m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:01PM-0.04m | 3:07AM-0.03m | 3:41PM0.01m | 3:38AM0.01m | 4:20PM0.06m | 4:11AM0.06m | 4:59PM0.13m | 4:46AM0.11m | 5:42PM0.20m | 5:24AM0.17m | 6:31PM0.27m | 6:08AM0.23m | 7:37PM0.31m | ||||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 34 | 18 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 15 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | S 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | S 6 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SW 4 | ESE 12 |
6 | 5 | 24 | 33 | 37 | 24 | 18 | 49 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 57 | 54 | 60 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 4 | S 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 |
14 | 14 | 2 | — | 31 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | S 9 | — | SE 9 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | ESE 6 | E 15 | E 15 | SE 9 | S 6 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 4 | SW 4 |
1 | 1 | 2 | — | 31 | — | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | NW 2 | S 5 | NE 3 | — | NE 4 | E 5 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | S 2 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | E 5 |
— | — | 3 | 18 | 1 | 13 | 5 | — | 20 | 71 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 810 | 1100 | 273 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 231 | 231 | 273 | 803 | 1065 | 118 | 163 | 344 | 163 | 10 | 222 | 187 | 15 | 65 | 1498 |
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.










