Fortress Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.02° N 71.96° W

Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fortress sea temperature is
20.4° C
0.9° 

Fortress surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Fortress surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, S swell with 732 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s 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 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s 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 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Sun 19th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s
Best Surf11AM (Thu 23rd Jul)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul)7ft (2.2m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in. Let's have a look at what's cookin' on the reef.

Honestly, the next two weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Fortress. We've got a real slow start, with nothing much on offer for the first few days. The swell is tiny and the wind is just not playin' ball. The standout window is gonna be around Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd of July, but even that comes with a big fat caveat.

Fortress is a reef break, exposed to a southerly swell, and it's fairly consistent. For a beginner spot, it's been a real struggle. The water's sitting at 69°F which is about normal for this time of year. The first few days, from Saturday the 18th right through to Tuesday the 21st, are just a write-off. We're looking at tiny, weak swell, mostly under 3ft, with a short period of 5-7 seconds. The wind is a mess, swinging from a strong cross-shore to a lumpy onshore, making it proper choppy. The combined wave energy is barely a whisper, with readings like 75 and 51. It's just not worth paddling out.

Now, things get a bit more interesting around Wednesday the 22nd of July. We get a pulse of southerly swell, pushing 7ft, with a period of 9 seconds. That's a decent step up, and the combined energy jumps into the strong range (645 and 686). The wind is a cross-offshore, so the face will be reasonably clean. But here's the catch: at 7ft, this is starting to get a bit too big for the beginners this break is suited for, and the "marginal surf forecast" flag suggests the tide or conditions might be a bit tricky. It's a session for the more experienced crew.

Thursday the 23rd of July morning is probably the best of the bunch. The swell is still solid at 6ft from the south, period of 9 seconds, with strong energy (516). The wind is light and cross-shore from the NNE, which is a nice change. It'll be a bit lumpy, but it's our best shot at something rideable. The afternoon sees the wind swing back onshore, so the morning is the window.

After that, we're back to the doldrums. From Friday the 24th right through to the end of the period on the 2nd of August, the swell drops right back to ankle-snappers, with period under 8 seconds and energy levels tanking. The wind is a constant battle onshore or cross-onshore, creating nothing but chop. There's a brief moment on the 30th of July with glassy conditions, but the swell is a weak 3ft from ENE with a pathetic 4-second period. It's just not gonna do anything.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout, the middle of the second week (22nd-23rd July) has a pulse of clean, albeit large, swell for the advanced guys, and the rest is a flat, choppy bust. If you're a beginner, maybe give it a miss. If you're experienced and want a window, the morning of Thursday the 23rd is your best bet.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat night, calm by Mon morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed night, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue night, calm by Thu night).

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
0
2
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SSW
6
1
S
7
0.9
S
8
0.8
S
8
0.8
S
8
0.7
S
8
0.8
S
7
0.5
S
7
0.8
SSE
5
0.8
SE
5
2
S
8
2
S
9
1.7
S
9
1.5
S
9
1.6
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
8
0.9
S
8
0.9
SE
7
0.9
S
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
191
94
90
74
74
54
69
25
27
31
567
635
497
388
366
250
97
71
105
Wind (km/h)
35
WSW
25
NW
20
W
20
NNE
5
NW
20
S
20
S
25
SE
25
SE
35
SW
25
SW
25
SW
25
NNW
10
N
25
S
5
SSE
10
E
15
S
5
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
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
5:44AM0.01m
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
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:31
5:31
5:33
5:33
5:33
5:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:14
8:13
8:13
8:12
 mm
11
10
Temp °C
23
21
25
25
20
23
22
22
22
22
23
24
26
20
22
22
20
22
22
Feels °C
19
17
21
21
19
19
20
19
22
22
21
23
25
18
20
19
20
22
20
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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