Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, S swell with 1,429 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period with S 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 (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me have a look at what Fortress is offering up.
Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch ahead. We’ve got a real dry spell on our hands. The first wave of any use isn't until Sunday morning the 19th, and even then, we’re just looking at small, junky stuff. The whole second week is a write-off for any sort of quality session.
Let’s break it down.
The best we’ve got across the whole 16 days is the Thursday morning of the 23rd. That’s your standout. Swell comes up to 5ft from the S, with a moderate offshore breeze from the WNW. That combo will clean the place right up. The combined swell energy is moderate at 444, so there's a bit of push behind it. It’s a reef break, and it’s fairly consistent, but the crowds can be often – so expect company if the conditions look as good as they do on paper. Wednesday the 22nd morning will have a bigger swell, 7ft (combined energy of 671), and it’s clean, but a fresh SW breeze makes it cross-off. It’s at that size where it’s getting a bit much for beginners.
Before that, it’s a slow grind. The Sunday morning of the 19th, the water’s sitting at 69°, which is about average for the time of year. But that’s about the only positive. The swell is weak and short-period from the S, with a cross-off wind that keeps it clean. By Sunday afternoon, a gentle offshore gets in and makes for some weak, rideable slop. That’s your window if you’re desperate.
After the 23rd, it really falls apart. The surf drops away fast and we’re stuck with onshore winds and small, messy waves right through to the 2nd of August. The first of August brings a slightly bigger but poor-quality 4ft swell, but the onshore wind just wrecks it. The forecast for the 2nd of August sees swell pushing 7ft, but again, cross-on winds and short period – it’s going to be a bumpy, closed-out mess. Honestly, for a reef break that size with a short period and cross-on wind, it'll be more of a kite surfer's day than a paddle surfer's.
So, to be blunt: if you can hit Thursday morning the 23rd, by all means go. That’s the only real chance for a decent wave. Everything else is a whole lot of nothing or a waste of energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat night, light winds from the NE by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 24°C on Wed night, min 18°C on Thu morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 28 | 98 | 131 | 108 | 72 | 74 | 54 | 51 | 82 | 66 | 157 | 671 | 847 | 1019 | 355 | 264 | 98 | 68 | 66 | 75 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:45AM0.94m | 11:52PM0.85m | 12:33PM0.91m | 00:35AM0.76m | 1:24PM0.88m | 1:18AM0.68m | 2:18PM0.84m | 2:02AM0.61m | 3:18PM0.80m | 2:56AM0.57m | 4:23PM0.79m | 4:16AM0.55m | 5:25PM0.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:25PM0.05m | 5:44AM0.01m | 6:20PM0.11m | 6:23AM0.07m | 7:21PM0.17m | 7:03AM0.12m | 8:32PM0.22m | 7:48AM0.17m | 9:44PM0.24m | 8:40AM0.20m | 10:46PM0.24m | 9:41AM0.21m | 11:38PM0.22m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — |
 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 13 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 8 | S 7 | S 8 | E 11 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 7 | 131 | 108 | 72 | 74 | 54 | 3 | 36 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 1019 | 355 | 264 | 98 | 68 | 49 | 75 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | — | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | S 7 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 89 | — | 57 | 37 | 66 | 23 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | — | — | — | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 10 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 6 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | NE 3 | — | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 9 | S 9 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | NE 3 | — | — |
| kJ | 11 | 28 | 98 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 51 | 82 | 66 | 157 | 671 | 847 | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1117 | 315 | 303 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 38 | 9 | 1463 | 1155 | 574 | 183 | 38 | 20 | 0 | 9 | 32 | 0 | 38 | 9 |
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.
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