Fortress Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.02° N 71.96° W

Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fortress sea temperature is
22.5° 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 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, S swell with 127 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fortress in the next 16 days are 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 25th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf 2AM (Tue 25th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Most Powerful11AM (Mon 24th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let me level with you. This is a rough stretch for Fortress. Looking at the entire sixteen-day window, we’ve got basically nothing that’s going to get you excited. The first solid suggestion doesn’t even pop up until Saturday, August 29th, and even then, it’s a one-star day at best. That’s a long dry spell from now until then.

Fortress is a reef setup, exposed to the swell, and the water temp is sitting at 73°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The problem is the swell. For the next eight days, it’s all junk. Small, weak, short-period windswell from the northeast and east, barely cracking 5ft on Friday the 21st, but that’s paired with a nasty 28 mph cross-shore wind. That’s a complete write-off. The combined energy is only 111 on Friday morning, and it just gets weaker from there. All the wave comments say “poor surf conditions” and the scores are zeros. Nothing to see.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are even smaller, with the swell dropping to 0.7ft on Sunday. That’s flat. Monday the 24th sees a little bump back up to 3ft from the SSE, combined energy at 112, and clean morning wind from the west, but the period is only 6 seconds. It’s weak, and the afternoon gets chopped up again. Tuesday the 25th has clean offshore wind all day, but the swell is only 1.0ft. It’s pretty, but you can’t surf it.

There’s a long stretch of tiny, inconsistent, and poorly shaped swell right through to the end of August. The first real, albeit very ordinary, sign of life is on Saturday the 29th. The morning shows 2ft from the southeast, period at 8 seconds, combined energy of 56, and light north wind making it cross-offshore and clean. The wave comment finally says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – that’s your best bet. It’s not good, but it’s the only thing that isn’t a total zero. Since Fortress is a reef, that little southeast groundswell could wrap in and offer a few closeouts, but don’t expect much. Crowds are “often” an issue here, but on a day like this, you might have the place to yourself.

After that, it’s back to tiny, blown-out junk with strong onshore winds from the southeast into the first week of September. Tuesday the 1st of September has clean-ish conditions with strong SW winds blowing cross-off, but the swell is still only 2-2ft, period at 6 seconds, and combined energy a pathetic 43. It’s barely worth a paddle.

Honestly, for the whole sixteen days, the only time you might get a few ugly but rideable waves is the morning of August 29th. That’s your one standout, and it’s a weak one. The rest of it? Kite surfers might find something in the strong cross-shore days, but for us paddle surfers, this is a waiting game. It’s a blank run, but it won’t stay this way forever.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Fri afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Fri afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
ENE
6
0.9
ENE
6
0.8
ENE
5
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
7
0.2
ESE
12
0.7
SE
5
1
SSE
6
1.2
S
7
1.1
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
0.3
SE
11
0.3
SE
10
0.3
SE
11
0.3
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.4
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
135
45
28
11
11
15
23
68
127
92
54
18
17
18
15
21
32
35
22
38
Wind (km/h)
40
NNE
20
N
20
NE
10
ESE
15
ESE
20
ENE
25
SSW
20
SW
20
WSW
30
SW
25
WNW
25
W
25
W
20
NW
20
WNW
25
SW
20
SW
20
SW
25
S
15
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
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
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:37
7:36
7:35
7:32
7:31
7:30
7:29
 mm
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Temp °C
20
19
19
20
21
22
25
25
23
23
23
21
22
22
20
23
23
24
23
24
Feels °C
15
16
17
22
21
23
24
24
20
18
19
17
19
19
17
19
19
23
21
26
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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