Block Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag and not a lot of it is tap-worthy. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions lined up, with just a couple of windows that might be worth paddling out for. The island’s best bet is the point break at *Block Island*, which is exposed to the south-east and needs a good swell to bend in. It’s a fickle spot that rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s a bit of an event.

The water temperature is sitting at 68°F right now, which is about 1°F cooler than average for this time of year. Nothing to write home about, just a touch on the fresh side.

The first real chance of anything decent comes on Sunday the 19th. Friday and Saturday are a total write-off with tiny waves and onshore junk. But Sunday morning shows a clean picture with a cross-off breeze from the west, and the swell is starting to push up. We’re seeing a 7ft swell from the SSW, with a combined energy of (385) – that’s solid, moderate energy. The period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s windswell, not the cleanest groundswell, but the wind is good. Sunday afternoon gets even better: 7ft from the SSW, period up to 8 seconds, energy cranking to (499), and still a clean cross-off breeze. This is the standout of the whole forecast. The place is exposed, so it’ll be handling that size, but with the wind, it should be linking up. It’s a point break, so it should handle the shorter period better than a beach. It’s rarely breaking, so you better be ready to go when it’s on. Crowds are often an issue here, so expect company.

Monday the 20th is still hanging in there, but it’s a step down. Morning sees a 5ft swell from the south with a much better 9-second period, energy at (422), but the wind is a light cross-on from the SW. It’s marginal, with a score that says it’s touch and go. The afternoon gets messier with a cross-shore chop.

After that, it’s a long, painful grind. From Tuesday the 21st right through to the end of the month, it’s all “poor surf conditions.” The winds are mostly onshore or cross-shore, with a couple of clean windows on the 22nd and 26th-27th where the wind goes cross-off, but the swell is tiny – barely 2ft to 4ft, with weak energy. There’s a pulse on the 30th with a 4ft, 9-second swell from the south and energy of (288), but the wind is cross-on, so it’s choppy. That’s not worth getting excited about.

So, the bottom line: if you want a wave, your only real shot is Sunday July 19th, with the morning being clean and the afternoon having a bit more push. After that, it’s a lot of waiting for a long time. The forecast is reliable for the first week, but the second week is a dust bowl.

Rusty.

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