Fortunes Rocks Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me have a look at what’s cooking for Fortunes Rocks Beach over the next couple weeks. I’ll tell you straight up – it’s a rough stretch. There’s barely a window where it all comes together, and for long spells you’re looking at flat, messy, or just plain no-go conditions. Let’s walk through it day by day.

The first real chance to even paddle out doesn’t show until Monday the 14th, and even then it’s only ankle-to-knee high at 2 ft from the SSE with a short 6-second period. The energy is weak – only 40 (moderate wave energy) – but at least the wind is light offshore from the N, so the surface will be clean. That’s about the only positive. Nothing worth paddling across town for. Same story Tuesday the 15th – smaller and onshore slop. The swell energy drops to 22 (weak). Not worth wetting a leash.

We get a little bump Wednesday the 16th, with south swell pushing 3 ft to 4 ft, but it’s a short-period S swell, 5 seconds, moderate chop from cross-onshore winds at 12 mph. Energy climbs to 58 then 83 (still moderate, but low-end). The water’s warm for the time of year – anomaly is 0.9°F, so pretty average for September. That’s a small comfort, but the surf is just poor. Not your day.

Thursday the 17th offers glassy conditions early, with light rain and near-calm wind from the E at 3 mph – but the swell is a meager 3 ft from the SSE, 6 seconds, energy a weak 57. It’s clean, but you’re fighting tiny, weak waves.

Now here’s where it gets interesting but only for experts: Tuesday the 22nd. A solid E swell arrives, 7 ft in the morning, 6 ft in the afternoon, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 775 (strong to very strong wave energy) in the morning and 647 in the afternoon. That’s legitimate juice. BUT – the wind is howling from the ENE at 22 mph, cross-shore, and it’s lumpy cross-chop. That’s a beast of a session, big and messy. This is not for beginners. Over 8 ft would be expert only, and 7 ft is getting up there for any intermediate. It’s gonna be a battle. Honestly, with the strong wind and heavy chop, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Still, if you’re an expert and you want power, that’s your only real shot, but conditions will be ugly.

The next morning, Wednesday the 23rd, drops to 4 ft from the SE, 9 seconds, with a strong breeze from the NNE at 25 mph but cross-off, so the surface stays clean. Energy is 261 (moderate). Still big, still burly, but cleaner. By the afternoon, the wind shifts to NNW at 19 mph, offshore, and the swell holds at 4 ft. The score’s a 1 out of 10 – marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions. Not a standout, but if you’re desperate for a piece of that swell, that afternoon window is your best bet.

Thursday the 24th sees the swell drop further to 4 ft from the SE, 8 seconds, with light WNW winds at 6 mph – cross-off but nearly clean. Energy is 201 (moderate). Score is a 2 – “expect good surf conditions” for the morning. That’s actually the most promising window of the whole outlook. Not huge, not perfect, but rideable and reasonably clean. Still, it’s a far cry from pumping.

Friday the 25th brings another pulse of 5 ft from the SE, 8 to 9 seconds, with ENE wind at 6 mph – cross-shore. Energy in the afternoon hits 672 (strong wave energy). But onshore winds from the S at 9 mph ruin the afternoon. The morning might be okay, but it’s still a messy, average day.

Bottom line: this is a quiet two weeks for Fortunes Rocks Beach. There’s no true standout. If I had to pick one session, it’d be Thursday the 24th morning – chest-high SE swell, clean conditions, light wind. It’s not gonna blow your mind, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. The big pulse on the 22nd is for experts only, and the wind will make it ugly. If you’re a kite surfer, that Tuesday might be your jam. For the rest of us, keep your expectations low and your wetsuit handy. Long gaps between rideable days, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Forecasts can change, so stay hopeful.

Rusty.

Read more