Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Alright, straight up – this is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is looking very flat and pretty grim for Fortress. We’re talking about a long stretch of nothing really doing anything worthwhile. The first hint of anything surfable doesn’t even show up until Thursday, the 30th of July, and even then it’s a struggle.

The water’s sitting at 69°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent spring suit.

Let’s break it down. The first few days are a total write-off. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are a complete mess – poor conditions, wonky winds, and tiny, weak swell. Not worth paddling out for.

Thursday, the 30th of July, is the first time we see a little pulse of energy. The morning has a bit of a bump from the SSE at 4ft, with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of 217 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-offshore, which is a massive positive for cleanup. The forecast says it’s “marginal” and the tide might be a factor, but if you’re desperate, this is the closest thing to a window that week. The afternoon drops off again.

Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are back to tiny, weak, and choppy. The swell is barely 2ft and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. Forget it.

Then we hit a massive gap. From Sunday the 2nd of August all the way through to Sunday the 9th of August, the swell is consistently below 3ft and the energy is weak. A few mornings on the 4th and 5th of August see some light cross-offshore winds with tiny 2ft to 3ft waves, but the energy is so low (64 and 34 respectively) it’s barely surfable. It’s clean, but it’s flat.

The second week doesn’t get any better. From Monday the 10th of August onwards, the swell drops to almost nothing – 0.3ft to 2ft at best. The wind stays cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s simply no water moving. The combined energy values are all below 50, which is basically a lake.

So, the honest truth? There is no standout. No day to get excited about. The best of a bad bunch is Thursday morning, the 30th of July, with a clean 4ft SSE swell and a bit of energy. If you’re a beginner, even that 4ft is fine, but the quality is just “marginal.” For anyone else, it’s going to be a frustrating session. The rest of the month is a flat, clean, and boring stretch. This is one of those times where you leave the boards in the car and go for a walk.

Stay patient, mates. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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