
Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, SE swell with 345 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Fortress. It’s a reef set-up, exposed to the swell, and it’s been a bit of a mixed bag lately. We’ve got a long 16-day window ahead, but it’s going to be a slow start, with a few days of really small, messy waves before things start to look up. Hang tight, because the second week is where the real story is.
The First Week – A Slow Grind
It’s Monday, July 27th, and honestly, it’s pretty flat. We’re looking at tiny 2ft swell from the ESE with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-onshore. The wave energy is weak (65). It’s not worth paddling out. This continues through Tuesday and Wednesday morning with poor, choppy conditions. Wednesday afternoon is the first flicker of hope – the swell bumps up to 6ft from the SE, and the wind swings offshore from the WNW. That’s a clean, offshore window, but the period is still short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. Still, the energy is moderate (332), so it’s something to watch.
Thursday, July 30th – The First Glimpse of Clean
Thursday morning is a real treat. The wind drops to glassy, and we’ve got a clean 3ft SSE swell with a period of 9 seconds. The energy is moderate (245). It’s small, but it’s clean, and the reef will make the most of it. This is a good morning for a longboard or a funboard. Thursday afternoon holds clean with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell energy drops. Friday is a bit of a write-off, but Saturday morning, August 1st, is glassy again with a tiny 2ft swell. It’s surfable, but you’ll be scratching for a wave.
The Standout – Monday, August 3rd
Now, this is the one. Monday, August 3rd, morning. The forecast shows a solid 7ft SSE swell with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The wind is offshore from the WNW, and the energy is very strong (964). This is a big, powerful swell for a reef break. The wave height is over 8ft, so this is strictly for experienced surfers – it will be too big for beginners. The long period means the waves will have plenty of shape and power, but at a reef, that’s a good thing. The wind is offshore, so the faces will be clean. This is the best bet of the whole 16-day window. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick suit.
The Rest of the Second Week
After that Monday morning, the swell drops back. Tuesday, August 4th, morning is glassy with 4ft SSE swell – a good, clean follow-up. Wednesday, August 5th, is clean but smaller. The rest of the week into the second weekend sees a lot of cross-shore wind and lumpy conditions, with the swell fading. The energy is low, and the period is short. It’s not really worth getting excited about until the very end of the window.
Overall
The standout is Monday, August 3rd, morning. That’s the one to mark on the calendar. The first week is a slow burn, but Thursday morning offers a clean, small session. The second week has a few clean mornings, but nothing with the power of that Monday. The reef at Fortress will handle the bigger swell well, but be aware of the crowd – it’s marked as ‘often’ busy, so get there early for the best of it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 23°C on Tue night, min 18°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri night, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
36 | 47 | 28 | 31 | 45 | 59 | 115 | 247 | 331 | 68 | 96 | 81 | 209 | 143 | 94 | 63 | 38 | 72 | 73 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:21AM0.64m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:12PM0.10m | 3:43AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.10m | 4:17AM0.02m | ||||||
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | |
8:09 | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 31 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 8 | — | E 8 | SE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
36 | 47 | 28 | 31 | 45 | 3 | 6 | — | 1 | 68 | 96 | 81 | 209 | 143 | 94 | 63 | 38 | 72 | 73 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 9 | E 6 | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | SE 10 | — | — | SE 10 | E 6 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | E 5 |
24 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 48 | 4 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 18 | 23 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | S 7 | S 6 | — | E 9 | — | — | SSW 8 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | ENE 5 | E 5 | SE 9 |
1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | 47 | 58 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ENE 5 | E 6 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | — | — | S 3 |
— | — | — | 5 | 9 | 59 | 115 | 247 | 331 | 37 | 43 | 41 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 7 | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 10 | 636 | 167 | 414 | 1783 | 237 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 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.










