The Fort Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks. Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what The Fort has on offer over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this isn’t a classic run of swell. We’ve got a lot of days where the conditions are just marginal, with cross-shore winds messing up the surface and not enough push to make it worthwhile. The water temperature is sitting at 56°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The best opportunity for a wave this week is actually Monday morning, the 20th of July. It’s not going to be huge, with the swell coming in at 2ft from the SW, but the wind will be glassy. That’s a major positive – clean, smooth faces make even a small wave fun. The combined wave energy is weak, reading just 387, so expect gentle, lined-up sets rather than any real punch. This is a reef setup, so it’s ideal for that longer-period groundswell (16 seconds). Just be aware that The Fort is fairly exposed to the swell and can get a few heads in the water *sometimes*, so you might have some company on those small, clean peaks.

After Monday, the wind turns messy again and the quality drops off. Through the rest of the week and into the following week, things stay pretty average. The swell does pick up a bit, but it's accompanied by moderate to fresh cross-shore winds, which will put a chop on the surface. Not what you’d paddle out for.

Looking further out, into the last few days of July and the start of August, there are a couple of mornings that might be worth a look. The 30th of July (Thursday) morning has a clean 4ft SW swell with light offshore wind from the WSW. The energy is moderate, sitting at 1548, which is the strongest reading in the whole forecast. It’s still 'marginal' on the score, but with that wind and some decent period (15 seconds), it could surprise. The 31st of July (Friday) morning is similar, with a 5ft WNW swell and light offshore wind, though the period is much shorter at 10 seconds, so the shape won’t be as good. These are the ones to circle on the calendar, but remember, anything this far out is promising, not guaranteed.

Overall, it’s a patchy outlook. The early part of the window is poor, with a few days of no real recommendation. Monday the 20th is your best bet for a clean, small session, and keep an eye on Thursday the 30th for a bit more size and decent wind. Keep the faith, the forecasts can always change for the better.

Rusty.

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