Block Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Block Island.

It’s a slow start, real quiet. The first few days are a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. We’ve got a bit of swell around on the 30th and 31st, but the wind is messy and the quality is just not there. A couple of those days have a clean-looking wave face, but the energy is weak and the cross-off wind isn’t doing us any favours. You’ll be fighting a fresh breeze and the sets are just unremarkable. Honestly, if you’re looking to get wet, you’re better off waiting.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Monday the 3rd of August in the afternoon. A quick shift to a westerly breeze and the waves come up a touch. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the south, with a combined energy reading of 270 (moderate). The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions”, and I’ll take that. The wind is cross-off, so the faces should be clean. This is a point break that rarely breaks, so any time it’s on, it’s special. Just keep in mind, it’s inconsistent by nature, and when it’s working, the crowds are likely to be there.

After that, it goes flat and poor again for nearly a week. A few tiny bumps, but nothing worth the paddle out. Then we get a real tease for the weekend of the 8th and 9th of August. On the morning of Saturday the 8th, we get a 4ft swell from the SSE with a long period of 11 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 465 (moderate), but the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are described as “poor”. That’s a shame because the period is good.

The standout is Sunday the 9th of August. Morning session. We’ve got a solid 5ft swell from the south, a period of 12 seconds, and the combined energy is a beefy 705 (strong). The wind is a light NE breeze, cross-off, keeping it clean. The wave comment flat out says “expect very good surf conditions”. This is the best on offer. The swell direction is off the south, while the optimum for this spot is SE, so it’s not a perfect match, but the size and period make up for it. The waves will have good shape, and the clean conditions will make the paddle out a bit easier with those longer gaps between sets. If you can only pick one window, this is the one.

The following week shows a bit of size, with a 7ft swell from the SSE on the 12th of August. That’s pushing into expert territory (over 8ft is too big for most), and the cross-onshore wind is going to chop it up. The combined energy is over 1300 (very strong), but the conditions are poor. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s a groundswell, but the wind is a deal-breaker. It’s more of a kite surfing kind of setup than a clean paddle session.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a bust. The best bet is Sunday morning, the 9th of August. It’s a long way out, so the forecast might wobble, but right now, that’s the one to circle on the calendar. For the rest, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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