Block Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Block Island’s got cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re staring down a long dry spell with nothing worth paddling out for until we get into the last week of the period. For the next week and a half, it’s mostly tiny, weak swell and pretty average wind conditions. From Sunday the 13th right through to Friday the 25th of September, there’s hardly a wave worth mentioning. The combined swell energy is mostly under 100 (weak) and the heights are just ankle to shin high. You’ll get a couple of afternoons with offshore wind, like Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th, but the swell is just too small to do anything with—1ft to 2ft and short period. The wind does clean things up, but there’s no power behind it. On Sunday the 20th, we see a bump to 5ft from the SW, with moderate energy (225), but it’s cross-onshore and choppy, so still a write-off for a decent paddle.

Then we hit a stretch of really strong wind from the 21st to the 24th, with near gale force gusts. The swell is tiny—0.7ft to 1ft—and with that kind of wind, even though it’s cross-offshore and clean, you’d be mad to go out. That setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than for paddle surfing.

The only light at the end of the tunnel arrives on Saturday the 26th of September. Block Island (a rarely breaks point break) finally gets a pulse. We see 3ft from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, and combined energy climbing to 144 (moderate). The morning has clean conditions with a cross-offshore breeze from the W at 15 mph. It’s not massive, but it’s the first real sign of life. The water temp is around 68°, which is about average for the time of year here.

Sunday the 27th of September looks even better. Swell holds at 3ft from the ESE, but the period stretches to 10-11 seconds, and energy jumps to 203-267 (moderate). The wind is cross-shore and light, so it’ll be a bit lumpy but still rideable. The best bet is likely Sunday afternoon, with that longer period and slightly cleaner conditions.

Monday the 28th of September sees the swell drop back to 2ft, but with a 12-second period (groundswell) and clean offshore wind from the NE at 19 mph. Energy is still decent at 179. This could actually offer some fun, lined-up waves if the swell direction holds, though at this range it’s a bit less certain.

Overall, the standout is Sunday the 27th of September afternoon. It’s the best combo of size, period, and manageable wind all period. Saturday the 26th morning is your second best. For the rest, you’re waiting and hoping. For a spot that rarely breaks, this is pretty much what a blank run looks like around here.

Rusty.

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