
Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, E swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fortress this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 21st Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the Fortress region over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a grim stretch for surf. The whole outlook is a bit of a bust, with wave energy staying weak and the wind and swell direction just not lining up to give us anything decent. The entire 16-day forecast window is a write-off; there isn’t a single session that gets a recommendation. The combined swell energy barely ticks over, with the highest reading being a weak to moderate 475 (combined energy of all swells directed here) in the second week, but that's paired with onshore winds and a messy, choppy sea state.
We’re looking at a long blank period with no surf worth paddling out for. The water temperature is around 69°, which is about average for the time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s normal.
The swell that does show is small, often under 3 ft, with periods that are either short and weak or long but with no height behind them. Even when we get a bit of size late in the second week, like around the 23rd of September when the swell pushes to 7 ft from the ESE, the wind is a cross-onshore at 16 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. That kind of setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. For the experienced crew, the swell at 7 ft to 7 ft on the 23rd is big, but with the wind and poor quality, it’s not a recommendation.
We do get some clean, glassy-looking conditions at the start and very end of the window, like on the 14th with a light cross-offshore breeze and the 27th to 29th with cross-offshore winds, but the swell is tiny—0.7 ft to 2 ft. Not enough to break properly. It’s a frustrating pattern: when the wind is good, the swell is flat, and when the swell shows up, the wind ruins it.
Bottom line: don't bother checking the forecast for a while. It tends not to stay this poor for long around here, so keep an eye out, but for now, the boards stay in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the S by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | E 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | ENE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 27 | 18 | 33 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 46 | 47 | 39 | 110 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:31AM0.98m | 10:34PM0.79m | 11:08AM0.92m | 11:06PM0.73m | 11:46AM0.85m | 11:40PM0.67m | 12:26PM0.79m | 00:22AM0.62m | 1:16PM0.74m | 1:14AM0.59m | 2:31PM0.70m | 2:28AM0.57m | 4:10PM0.70m | 4:33AM0.60m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:20PM0.06m | 4:11AM0.06m | 4:59PM0.13m | 4:46AM0.11m | 5:42PM0.20m | 5:24AM0.17m | 6:31PM0.27m | 6:08AM0.23m | 7:37PM0.31m | 7:03AM0.27m | 9:21PM0.31m | 8:15AM0.30m | 10:29PM0.28m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 6:59 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 23 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
17 | 27 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 47 | 39 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SW 4 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 7 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
20 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 15 | E 15 | S 6 | E 7 | SE 13 | SE 10 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 8 | — | E 7 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — |
— | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 7 | — | 4 | — | 5 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NNW 3 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | E 5 | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | — | — | ESE 6 | SE 3 | SSW 4 | SW 6 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 |
8 | 2 | 17 | 33 | 11 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 5 | 6 | — | — | 12 | 5 | 46 | 95 | 24 | 110 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 129 | 15 | 273 | 676 | 801 | 801 | 1155 | 1155 | 15 | 185 | 722 | 383 | 15 | 51 | 646 | 682 | 803 | 721 | 47 | 52 | 2 |
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.










