New York
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 11mph from the SW and poor conditions.
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 11mph from the SW and poor conditions.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 12mph from the SW, poor conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SW swell at 4s with gentle NW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on N swell at 4s with strong N wind at 14mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 1-2ft. Wind drops off and the surface cleans up — poor by afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 10s and 13mph out of the N. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Fortress turns Good.
Check Fortress from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 6.4s swell period. Wind is SW at 12mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Fortress is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.6ft SE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SE secondary swell at 9s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 10.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
