
Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, S swell with 554 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s is also forecast. 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 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, I’m gonna be straight with you. Fortress is a reef break that needs a good SE swell, and we just aren’t getting it. This whole 16-day window is a bust. There’s a big gap from now, all the way through, with no real surf worth paddling for.
Let’s break it down. Starting Monday the 27th of July. We got a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE with a short 7-second period. The combined energy is a weak 65, and the wind is cross-on from the SE. It’s garbage. That afternoon and all through Tuesday and Wednesday, the wind cranks up from the S at 18-22 mph, just trashing the 4ft to 6ft swell. The energy does hit 481 on Wednesday morning, but the wind is cross-shore chop, making it a mess.
Thursday the 30th of July morning is the closest thing to a pulse. A 5ft swell from the SSE (a little off the ideal SE), with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 306. That’s moderate energy. The wind is light cross-shore from the S at just 3 mph. It’s called “marginal,” and I’d say that’s generous. It’s the most interesting moment, but it’s still not good. After that, it fades. Friday and Saturday the swell drops and the wind goes onshore.
From the 1st of August onward, it’s a struggle. Swell is almost always under 3ft, periods in the 6-8 second range, and energy readings are mostly in the double digits. The wind is often onshore or cross-onshore. There’s a tiny moment on Tuesday the 4th of August morning: 2ft and clean offshore from the WNW, but the energy is only 58. Surfable, but very ordinary.
The rest of the second week is the same story: small, weak, and poor. A clean 1ft on the 9th of August with a light offshore, but you’d be lucky to get a ride.
So, what’s the best on offer? It’s that Thursday morning, the 30th of July. The 5ft swell from the SSE with a 9-second period and that light cross wind. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only window where the energy is moderate and the wind isn’t howling. The water temperature is 69°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about 2° degrees down.
A blank run like this is pretty normal for this area. The swell direction is just wrong, and the wind is a persistent problem. Don’t bother. Wait for the next one.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon night, min 20°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Tue night, light winds from the W by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu night, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
28 | 31 | 74 | 139 | 256 | 373 | 181 | 220 | 227 | 176 | 144 | 137 | 119 | 103 | 96 | 66 | 74 | 39 | 25 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 7:42PM0.85m | 8:03AM0.69m | 8:16PM0.87m | 8:39AM0.73m | 8:45PM0.88m | 9:12AM0.76m | 9:12PM0.87m | 9:42AM0.79m | 9:42PM0.86m | 10:13AM0.82m | 10:15PM0.84m | 10:47AM0.84m | 10:53PM0.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:36AM0.10m | 1:08PM0.14m | 2:09AM0.07m | 1:50PM0.12m | 2:40AM0.04m | 2:31PM0.11m | 3:11AM0.02m | 3:12PM0.10m | 3:43AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.10m | 4:17AM0.02m | 4:38PM0.11m | 4:55AM0.03m | |||||||
— | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | |
8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 2 | 13 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
28 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 258 | 181 | 220 | 227 | 176 | 144 | 137 | 119 | 103 | 96 | 66 | 74 | 39 | 25 | 23 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | E 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
12 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 136 | 89 | 101 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | SE 10 | E 5 | E 5 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 6 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 2 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 |
1 | 16 | 74 | 139 | 256 | 373 | 49 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 15 | 19 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 1783 | 163 | 625 | 1674 | 183 | 47 | 38 | 0 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 54 | 54 | 33 | 8 | 54 | 47 | 54 | 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.










