Block Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you about Block Island. We’ve got a long forecast window, but it’s a tough one. The pickings are slim, and there’s a big quiet spell at the start. Let's break it down.

Right off the bat, from Saturday the 22nd all the way through to Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s a write-off. Seriously, we’re talking ten days of tiny, weak, and messy surf. The wave energy is mostly in the double digits, peaking just over 100 (127) at best, with short-period swells under 8 seconds. The wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, mixing things up into a choppy mess. It’s a real bummer for a stretch that long.

The first real glimmer of something happens on Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. We get a bit of a pulse. The swell height bumps to 2ft from the SE with a 11-second period, and the energy climbs to 99. The wind goes offshore from the N at 18 mph. That’s a clean offshore, which is a major positive. Block Island is a point break that’s exposed, but it rarely breaks, so conditions have to line up. Wednesday arvo sees the period drop to 10 seconds, but the swell picks up to 3ft and the energy hits 139. The wind is cross-off from the NE at 12 mph, so it stays clean. For a spot that rarely fires, this is a window to keep an eye on.

Now, the standout. Thursday the 3rd of September gets real interesting. The swell jumps to 7ft from the SE with a short 6-second period, but the energy rockets to 412. That’s a strong pulse of wave energy. By Thursday afternoon, it’s 8ft from the SE, still short period (7 seconds), and the energy is a massive 569. The wind goes light from the SE, just a slight air, so it’s a light cross-onshore. This is a big, powerful swell for the area. Thing is, at 8ft, this is strictly for experienced surfers—too big for beginners. The short period means it’ll be a bit fat and crumbly, but with that much energy pushing through, there’ll be waves. The water temp is sitting at 71°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick suit.

The 3rd is the only real highlight, as the swell fades quickly into Friday the 4th (4ft, 195 energy) and drops off over the weekend. The wind stays messy, with onshore and cross-onshore directions.

So, overall? Block Island is a tough bet. It rarely breaks, and this forecast shows a long stretch of nothing followed by one solid pulse on Thursday the 3rd. If you’re an experienced surfer and can be flexible, that’s the day. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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