The Fort Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a long look ahead at The Fort, and honestly, I’m feeling a bit bummed out for you. The next 16 days are looking like a real struggle for decent surf. The swell is on the small side, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, which is going to keep things messy.

The first bit of surf that might be worth a look doesn’t really show up until Saturday, the 29th of August. There’s a little 3ft SW groundswell rolling in with a long 18-second period, but the wave energy is moderate (947). The problem is the wind is a moderate cross-shore, creating a cross-chop, so it’s only going to be marginal. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Sunday the 30th is similar, with a 3ft SW swell at 16 seconds, but the light cross-onshore wind (6 mph) will put small ripples on it. The wave energy is still moderate (621). It’s a "maybe" session, not a "get out of work" session.

The best chance in this whole stretch looks like Thursday, the 3rd of September. The swell stays around 3ft from the SSW, bumping up to a 14-second period. The real kicker is the combined energy jumps to 870 – still moderate, but the strongest we see. The morning has a gentle cross-onshore breeze, so it’ll be a bit choppy, but you might get a few. It’s not a standout by any means, but it’s the closest thing to a highlight in this dry spell.

After that, it’s more of the same. Friday the 4th has light winds and a 3ft SSW swell, but it’s cross-onshore again. Saturday the 5th has a window of clean offshore wind (3 mph from the WSW) with a 3ft SW groundswell at 16 seconds, but the energy is only 448. It’s a small, clean wave for the longboard or a log.

From the 6th of September onward, it’s a real grind. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, and the wind stays cross or cross-onshore. The combined energy stays under 500, signaling weak conditions. For a reef break that’s fairly exposed to the SW, this is a real bummer.

For beginners, none of this is going to be good. The swell never gets over 5ft, so it’s not too big, but the poor conditions make it unappealing for anyone. Honestly, the wind and chop look more interesting for a kite session than a paddle session right now.

Don’t lose hope, though. The Fort is a consistent break, so this run of poor surf won’t last forever. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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