Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, SSW swell with 361 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Block Island this week:
The surf forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Block Island in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is a real tough one to call. Block Island is lookin’ at a long, long stretch of flatness or just plain messy conditions. The boys up there aren't gonna be stoked.
We’ve got a solid blank run from now until the morning of Friday, August 21st. That’s over a week of the ocean just not giving us anything worth paddling out for. The wind is a constant problem – mostly cross-on or cross, and on the few mornings it’s offshore, the swell is tiny, like 2 ft. It’s just not happening.
The real heartbreaker is Monday, August 17th. There’s a bit of a pulse, with a 4 ft SSW swell and clean, cross-off morning winds from the WNW. The combined energy hits 121 (moderate), but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s gonna be weak and gutless. Still, it’s the cleanest we’ll see in a while.
Then we get another flat spell until the morning of Friday, August 21st. That’s when things finally get interesting. Offshore winds from the NW, clean as a whistle, and a 6 ft SSW swell. The energy jumps to 298 (strong), but the period is still only 7 seconds. That’s a bit of a letdown because it’ll be a bit soft and won’t have that long-period punch. It’s a decent swell, but not a classic Block Island groundswell. For the experienced crew, this is the window. For a beginner, 6 ft with a short period can be a handful.
The next morning, Saturday, August 22nd, is a total tease. We’ve got 2 ft and glassy conditions from the ENE. It’s beautiful, but there’s no power. You’d be bobbing around for nothing.
The standout, if you can call it that, is more of a promise. Wednesday, August 26th. The morning shows a 7 ft E swell with an 8-second period and clean cross-off winds from the NNE. The combined energy is a massive 485 (very strong). This is proper swell. 7 ft is big, too big for beginners, and this is squarely in the expert zone. The problem is the wind shifts in the afternoon to a cross-on ESE, which will chop it up. But that morning? That’s the one. It’s rare that Block Island fires, and when it does, it’s a special place. The only downside is that the swell is from the E, which is not the optimum SE direction for the point, but with that much energy, it’ll bend in. Just be prepared for some serious water moving around.
The 27th keeps some size, but it’s on the decline and the wind is a problem again.
Bottom line: We’ve got a week of waiting, then a couple of raw, punchy days at the end of the month. The 21st is the cleanest, but the 26th morning has the muscle. It’s a waiting game.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SW 4 | ESE 9 | S 6 | S 7 | SE 9 | SSW 6 | S 4 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 7 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 22 | 45 | 361 | 203 | 186 | 106 | 43 | 16 | 71 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:27PM1.09m | 8:53AM1.03m | 9:14PM1.05m | 9:42AM1.05m | 9:59PM0.99m | 10:29AM1.05m | 10:44PM0.92m | 11:16AM1.01m | 11:28PM0.84m | 12:04PM0.96m | 00:13AM0.76m | 12:54PM0.90m | 1:02AM0.69m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:05PM-0.06m | 2:57AM-0.05m | 3:00PM-0.05m | 3:38AM-0.05m | 3:53PM-0.02m | 4:17AM-0.03m | 4:44PM0.02m | 4:52AM0.02m | 5:35PM0.08m | 5:24AM0.07m | 6:30PM0.15m | 5:54AM0.13m | 7:31PM0.20m | |||||||
— | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SSW 4 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | — | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 6 | SE 12 |
7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 7 | — | 203 | 186 | 106 | 43 | 15 | 71 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SSW 5 | SE 14 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SW 5 | SE 13 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | SSE 9 | SSW 6 | SSE 6 |
4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 15 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | ESE 8 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 9 | — | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SW 6 |
2 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 16 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | W 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | NW 3 | NW 3 | SW 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | SSW 6 | S 4 | SSW 7 | NNW 3 | — | NNW 2 | NNE 4 | — | — |
12 | 3 | 22 | 20 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 18 | 5 | — | — | 22 | 45 | 361 | 2 | — | 1 | 5 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2553 | 2633 | 642 | 152 | 49 | 2375 | 776 | 3330 | 769 | 642 | 769 | 1586 | 1496 | 1700 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 634 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Rhode Island | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Block Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Block Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Block Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Block Island surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Block Island) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Block Island may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Block Island is 33 km (20 miles) from Westerly. If you plan a vacation in Rhode Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Westerly. Westerly has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











