Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it, just for the Fortress.

Alright, folks, let's be straight with you. The outlook for the next couple of weeks is a real mixed bag, and to be honest, it's looking pretty flat and ordinary for most of it. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swell and tricky winds. The only real standout, and I mean the *only* one that gets the blood pumping a little, is right at the very end of the forecast. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days through to the end of August are a write-off. Tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, with a weak SE windswell. The combined energy is pitiful, barely cracking 94 (94) on the best of it. Winds are a mix of cross and cross-off, but with such small surf, it’s just not worth paddling out.

Moving into the first week of September, things don't get much better. We get a pulse of SE swell on the 2nd, pushing up to 6ft, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds. The wave energy jumps up to 336 (336), but with onshore winds, it’s going to be a messy, lumpy crumble. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session. The following days are back to tiny, weak surf, with the occasional offshore breeze offering a clean, but flat, surface.

The second week stays quiet, with nothing but ankle-biters. There’s a pulse of longer period swell on the 8th, with a 10-second period from the SSE, but the heights are a paltry 2ft, and the energy is moderate at best (124). It's a tease.

The Standout

Now, if you’re looking for a proper session, you’re going to have to wait. The best bet on the entire forecast is Wednesday, the 9th of September. The afternoon at Fortress is your window. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the SSW, which is solid, and the wind is cranking offshore from the West at 22 mph. That’s a full-on offshore wind, which will hold the waves up and keep them clean. The combined energy is moderate at 123 (123), so there’s some push behind it. The period is a bit short at 6 seconds, so it won't be the most powerful wave, but that offshore wind is a game-changer. That’s your one to circle on the calendar. It’s a long way out, so don’t book the day off yet, but it’s the only real hope of a decent surf in the next 16 days. The rest of the time, honestly, leave the board in the car.

Rusty.

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