Surf Forecasts:
Fortress surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, ENE swell with 131 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 (Aug 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fortress over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and settle in. This is a tough one to write, so I’ll be straight with you.
Right now, the outlook for the next sixteen days is a proper flat spell. I’m looking at the whole run and there’s barely a pulse. We’ve got a long stretch from the start of the forecast right through to the 29th of August where it’s just not worth paddling out. The swell energy is weak, the wind is messy, and the waves are small and chopped. It’s one of those blanks where you’re better off checking the cam every few days and hoping for a change.
Fortress (reef) is the only spot on the cards, and it’s a beginner-friendly reef that’s fairly consistent, but it’s not doing us any favours right now. The water temperature is sitting at 73°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least the water’s not freezing when you’re sitting there waiting for a set that never comes.
The only time I’d even consider getting wet is around the 29th of August. Saturday morning we’ve got a clean, moderate offshore wind from the west at 12 mph, with a small 2 ft swell from the south. The combined energy is weak (84), so it’s tiny, but it’s at least clean. The afternoon holds a bit better with a gentle offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, and a 2 ft swell from the southeast. Still tiny, but that’s the best we’ve got. The waves are surfable, but very ordinary.
After that, the 30th of August Sunday afternoon goes glassy with no wind at all, but the swell drops to just 1 ft from the southeast. It’s a beautiful, flat pond. That’s about it for the whole window. The rest of the time it’s either onshore, choppy, or just plain flat.
There’s a small pulse showing up around the 1st of September with a 5 ft to 5 ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s not going to be any good. A couple of days later, the 3rd of September Thursday morning looks glassy again, but the swell is only 1 ft.
Honestly, this is a classic case of waiting it out. The swell direction is all over the place, and the energy just isn’t there. If you’re a kite surfer, the windier days with a bit of size might be more interesting, but for paddle surfing, it’s a write-off. Keep an eye on it, forecasts can change, but right now, save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 25°C on Sun night, min 19°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Fri morning, light winds from the SSE by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 71 | 122 | 88 | 37 | 13 | 11 | 25 | 32 | 107 | 44 | 64 | 41 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 29 | 64 | 39 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:43PM0.74m | 3:07AM0.55m | 4:56PM0.75m | 5:09AM0.57m | 5:52PM0.77m | 6:10AM0.62m | 6:36PM0.80m | 6:56AM0.68m | 7:13PM0.84m | 7:34AM0.74m | 7:45PM0.87m | 8:07AM0.80m | 8:14PM0.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:13PM0.29m | 8:54AM0.27m | 11:11PM0.26m | 10:13AM0.26m | 11:56PM0.22m | 11:19AM0.23m | 00:32AM0.16m | 12:09PM0.19m | 1:04AM0.11m | 12:53PM0.14m | 1:34AM0.06m | 1:34PM0.10m | 2:05AM0.02m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 27 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SSW 6 | SE 11 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 11 | 5 | 88 | 37 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 107 | 44 | 19 | 41 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 14 | 15 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SE 14 | SE 14 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 5 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 12 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 11 | SE 6 | SE 10 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | S 6 | E 12 | E 11 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 38 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | — | SW 5 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 8 | E 7 | SE 12 | SE 12 | E 6 | E 7 | SE 11 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 5 | E 6 | — | E 8 | — | E 11 |
| kJ | 8 | — | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 22 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | N 4 | — | — | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | WNW 3 | — | S 6 | W 4 | W 2 | SSW 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 71 | 122 | 9 | — | — | 1 | 25 | 32 | 3 | — | 64 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 29 | 64 | 39 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 668 | 1100 | 32 | 4 | 193 | 178 | 52 | 167 | 9 | 185 | 185 | 0 | 10 | 187 | 636 | 15 | 1155 | 219 | 9 | 193 | 308 |
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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