Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, S swell with 1,179 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 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 folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, the first week is pretty grim. The surf is small, the wind is messy, and there’s not much to get excited about. From Monday the 20th of July right through to the end of the month, conditions are a slog. The swell never really gets its act together, staying under 3 feet for most of that time, with a lot of cross-shore and onshore wind. A few mornings do go glassy, like Monday the 20th and Friday the 24th, but the swell is tiny and weak, with combined energy readings of just 60 (Monday) and 119 (Friday). Not worth paddling out for.
There is a bit of a pulse mid-week around Wednesday the 22nd, where the swell bumps up to 6 feet from the south with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 421 (moderate), and conditions are clean with a cross-offshore wind. It’s a marginal call, though – the swell is getting up there, but it’s on the bigger side for a beginner spot like Fortress, and the wind is fresh at 15 mph. Thursday the 23rd looks similar, with 6 feet south swell (10-second period) and a fresh cross-offshore wind, energy at 655 (strong). Again, it’s borderline, and the higher period means longer gaps between sets. Not ideal for a beach setup.
The standout window arrives later, and it’s worth waiting for. On Sunday the 2nd of August, the morning brings a real shift. We’ve got a 5 feet south-southwest swell with a 7-second period, and the wind is offshore from the west-northwest at 9 mph. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 68°, but the combined energy is 247 (moderate). That offshore wind is the key – it’ll clean up the faces nicely. By Monday the 3rd of August, the swell builds to 7 feet from the south-southwest (8-second period), but the wind is light and cross-shore, so conditions are a bit more mixed. The energy is strong at 756, but that sort of size is only for the more experienced crew. The real best bet is that Sunday morning – it’s the most promising, cleanest session in the whole outlook.
This is a reef break, so it handles the swell well, but it’s a beginner-friendly spot, so that 5 feet with offshore wind is a sweet spot. Crowds are often, so expect company. The optimal swell direction is from the southeast, and this swell is coming from the south-southwest, so it’s a little off-angle, but the clean wind makes up for it.
After that, conditions drop off again, so get it while you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed night, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, strong winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Thu morning, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 54 | 37 | 46 | 34 | 166 | 636 | 460 | 836 | 1045 | 421 | 209 | 196 | 57 | 77 | 82 | 70 | 77 | 53 | 78 | 71 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 5:36AM0.56m | 6:18PM0.81m | 6:33AM0.60m | 7:03PM0.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:42AM0.21m | 00:23AM0.19m | 11:36AM0.19m | 1:02AM0.15m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — |
 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 34 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | SE 8 | SSW 7 | SE 12 | S 8 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 54 | 37 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 328 | — | — | 1045 | 421 | 209 | 196 | 57 | 77 | 82 | 70 | 3 | 53 | 78 | 71 | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | — | SE 9 | SW 5 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 69 | 77 | 75 | 57 | 39 | 24 | 7 | — | 19 | 1 | 7 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | SSW 7 | — |
| kJ | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | — | NNW 3 | — | — | NE 2 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 46 | 34 | 166 | 636 | 460 | 836 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1787 | 232 | 1155 | 1155 | 1155 | 163 | 38 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 803 | 32 | 52 | 675 | 25 | 51 | 578 | 187 |
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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