Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a bit of a quiet stretch, so don’t expect any fireworks early on. The first real nod comes with weather that’s more interesting for its temperature than its waves. The water’s sitting at 70°F, which is about bang on average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

We kick off with Fortress on Thursday the 27th of August. Tiny 2ft swell from the ESE at 9 seconds. It’s messy, cross-onshore wind, and the overall energy is weak (64). It’s a poor surf call. Honestly, the next week is a real grind. From Friday the 28th right through to Thursday the 3rd of September, it’s a run of small, weak swell. Heights barely touch 2ft, period is short and snappy, and the winds are mostly cross or cross-off. The energy figures are all well under 100, sometimes as low as 17. There are a couple of cleaner moments—like Saturday the 30th morning with WSW cross-off wind—but the swell is only 1ft. It’s not worth paddling out for.

There is a gap of several days here where the only thing on offer is knee-high dribble and ordinary conditions. From early September, things stay tiny. Tuesday the 1st has heavy rain and a fresh cross-shore wind with a 1ft SE swell. Not a surf day.

Now, things get a little more interesting but still not great. From Sunday the 6th of September, we see a bump in energy. Fortress gets a 3ft swell from the E on Sunday morning, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Monday the 7th is the first time we finally get a real kick in energy (107), but the swell is still small at 3-3ft. The wind on Monday morning is a cross-off from the NNE at 16 mph, which cleans it up. The period is 8 seconds—short, beach-break style. It’s surfable but not a standout.

The best on offer falls on Wednesday the 9th of September afternoon. Glassy conditions. Zero wind. The swell is 2ft from the SE with a long period of 12 seconds. The energy is moderate (112). That long period means it’s got a bit of shape, but at this size, it’s small and slow. Because it’s a reef break, the long-period swell will wrap in nicely and could give you a clean little line. But it’s tiny. For a stand-out? This is the pick, but only just. And Thursday the 10th morning is also glassy with a 2ft, 11-second SE swell (118). Similar story—clean, small, but surfable.

Heading into the second week, Friday the 11th of September morning has a 2ft SW cross-off swell at 11 seconds with moderate energy (154). Clean again, but still small. It’s a pattern of small, clean but ordinary surf. If you’re desperate for a paddle, wait for the glassy days on the 9th and 10th. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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