The Fort Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and listen up, this is Rusty.

We're looking at a pretty ordinary stretch ahead for The Fort. The first week or so is a real struggle with the wind. It's not a total write-off, but you'll have to pick your moments. The standout is shaping up to be a bit of a wildcard around the start of August.

Things kick off from Monday, 27 July, but it's a tough start. We've got a long-period SW groundswell rolling in – 3ft at 18 seconds – with a moderate cross-shore wind. The combined energy is moderate (709), but that cross-chop is going to make it bumpy and hard to enjoy. The ocean’s got some energy for sure, but the wind is just ruining it. This pattern of OK swell with a messy cross-shore wind sticks around right through to the end of July. The Fort is a reef, so it needs clean conditions, and we're not getting them.

The first real spark of hope comes on the morning of Saturday, 1 August. The swell jumps up to 6ft, but it's a short-period WNW windswell at 8 seconds. The wind drops to a gentle breeze, but it's cross-onshore, so it's still fairly choppy. The energy is moderate (859). It's a maybe, a bit of a gamble, but at least it's not the consistent cross-offshore mess we've had.

Now, the best option on offer is the morning of Sunday, 2 August. We see a jump in the swell to 8ft from the NW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1389). The catch? The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it's not glassy, but it's the best combination of size and wind we've got by a long shot. However, 8ft is getting up there, putting this in the realm of experienced surfers only. It's a powerful, punchy wave, but definitely not for the groms.

After that, the swell drops back off on Monday, 3 August, with a 4ft WNW swell and a light cross-onshore wind. The energy is weak (283). The following days are a mix of small, weak swells and onshore winds, with a few more promising windows in the afternoon of the 3rd (6ft, NW, 10 seconds, gentle cross-shore) and the morning of the 6th (5ft, WNW, 12 second groundswell, light onshore). The energy on the 6th is moderate (607). But for the most part, the second week is looking like a lot of small, weak, and messy surf. The period from the 7th to the 11th of August is particularly grim, with swells barely reaching 2ft and poor conditions.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is the morning of Sunday, 2 August, for the bigger, more powerful NW swell. It's not perfect, but it's the most interesting. The rest of the forecast is a waiting game.

Rusty out.

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