The Fort Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week or so is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf quality ahead. The swell is tiny, the wind is all wrong, and the waves are just a mess. You’re looking at a gap from now, Saturday the 22nd of August, all the way through to about the 3rd of September where there isn’t a single session I’d recommend. That’s a solid week and a half of flat, choppy, or just plain ugly conditions. Don’t even bother waxing up.

The Fort is our only break in the game, and it’s a reef setup. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit just yet. But the story here is the wind. It’s blowing cross or cross-onshore from the NW and WNW at 12 to 19 mph for day after day, just putting a nasty chop all over the place. The swell is coming from the SW, which is the optimum direction, but the size is pathetic – mostly 1 ft to 2 ft. Even when it tries to push a little energy, the wind ruins it.

The combined wave energy is weak to moderate at best, barely cracking three-digit numbers like 225 or 299 for most of this period. The few times it climbs into the 500s and 700s, the swell period drops to 6 or 7 seconds – that’s short-period wind slop, not real groundswell. It’s just not worth it.

Now, after that long dry spell, we finally get a glimmer of hope. Look at Friday morning, the 4th of September. We’ve got a light onshore wind from the SW at only 3 mph, almost glassy, with a solid 3 ft of SW groundswell pushing in at 18 seconds. That’s a long-period swell, which means proper shape and power, but at a beach break it might run a bit straight. On a reef like The Fort, though, that’s a good match. The combined energy is a strong 702, and it’s the only time the score hits a 2 out of 10. It’s not perfect, but after this drought, it’s the standout by a mile. Crowds are possible here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Friday afternoon and into Saturday the 5th stays marginal with similar swell size but the wind picks up a bit. It’s still the best run of the entire forecast, but it’s not a classic.

So, to sum it up: The first week is a write-off. You’re waiting until the 4th of September for the best chance to get wet, with cleanish conditions and a real swell from the SW. It’s not a barnburner, but it’s all we’ve got. Keep your eye on it, because forecasts can change, and a window like that might tighten up.

Rusty.

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