Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, S swell with 170 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with S 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 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me put it in feet and miles for you. Straight up, this Block Island outlook is bleak. From August 17th all the way to September 1st, there is barely a pulse of decent surf. The first recommendation doesn’t even show up until Wednesday, August 26th, and it’s a marginal call.
Block Island (Block Island) – that point break that almost never breaks, and this forecast proves why. The whole 16-day run is rated poor.
The only time it’s even worth mentioning is the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. You’ve got a combined swell energy of 542, pushing a 6ft swell out of the south-southwest with a 8-second period. The wind is east-northeast at 9 mph, making for a gentle cross-shore with a little chop on it. That’s not glass, but it’s the best the whole run can offer. At 6ft on a rarely-breaking point, this is for experienced surfers only. Water temp is around 72°, pretty normal for the time of year.
Everything else is a loss. Thursday the 27th has a long-period (12 seconds) south-east swell, but the wind is howling onshore at 19-22 mph, making it a lumpy, blown-out mess – better for kites. Friday the 28th has the strongest energy (780) but again, a fresh cross-shore wind spoils it.
So, the morning of the 26th is your one shot, but don’t get your hopes up. Block Island is a fickle spot, and this is a classic quiet spell. Forecasts can shift though, so keep watching.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 26°C on Wed night, min 20°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Mon morning, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the NE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 9 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
95 | 170 | 119 | 103 | 77 | 50 | 52 | 39 | 19 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 16 | 66 | 86 | 82 | 31 | 22 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 12:04PM0.96m | 00:13AM0.76m | 12:54PM0.90m | 1:02AM0.69m | 1:51PM0.84m | 1:59AM0.63m | 2:56PM0.80m | 3:09AM0.60m | 4:02PM0.79m | 4:20AM0.60m | 5:03PM0.80m | 5:21AM0.64m | 5:53PM0.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:30PM0.15m | 5:54AM0.13m | 7:31PM0.20m | 6:30AM0.19m | 8:37PM0.25m | 7:19AM0.23m | 9:43PM0.27m | 8:42AM0.25m | 10:43PM0.26m | 10:14AM0.24m | 11:34PM0.23m | 11:15AM0.22m | 00:18AM0.20m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 16 |
Temp °C | 21 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 18 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | E 6 | S 5 |
— | 170 | 119 | 103 | 77 | 50 | 52 | 39 | 18 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 31 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 14 | ENE 4 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 7 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 13 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | S 6 | E 5 |
— | — | 4 | 3 | 32 | 35 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 13 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | — | — | SW 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 6 | S 5 | SE 5 | SE 14 | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 |
— | — | — | 3 | 6 | 12 | — | — | 1 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | 3 | 22 | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | NE 4 | — | WNW 3 | — | SW 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 5 | SW 3 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 6 | — | — |
95 | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 66 | 86 | 82 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 163 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 161 | 152 | 49 | 29 | 1084 | 49 | 767 | 436 | 195 | 189 | 482 | 24 | 83 | 24 | 29 |
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.











