New York
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Fortress, New York. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SE swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with light SW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. 3-4ft waves to start the day on S swell at 7s.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 10mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 21mph.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 4-5ft and mostly poor with 16mph SW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 23mph by PM.
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Fortress is a lesser-known surf spot tucked along the eastern tip of New York near Montauk, facing NNW toward Block Island Sound and exposed to swells wrapping around from the Atlantic. The break picks up energy from northeast and south swells that refract around the point, producing punchy, hollow beach break waves that reward surfers willing to make the trek. Its relative remoteness keeps crowds thin, making it a prized find for New York surfers seeking uncrowded conditions during the fall swell season.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Fortress is 3-4ft with a 9.45s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Fortress is 3-4ft, produced by a 2.8ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft SW wind swell swell at 4s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Fortress is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 6.4s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Fortress works best with a SSE swell and NNW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Fortress. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Fortress is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Fortress is a lesser-known surf spot tucked along the eastern tip of New York near Montauk, facing NNW toward Block Island Sound and exposed to swells wrapping around from the Atlantic. The break picks up energy from northeast and south swells that refract around the point, producing punchy, hollow beach break waves that reward surfers willing to make the trek. Its relative remoteness keeps crowds thin, making it a prized find for New York surfers seeking uncrowded conditions during the fall swell season.
The prime season at Fortress is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Fortress include strong currents, rip currents, cold water, remote location, shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Fortress forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
