Block Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching this stretch of coast like a hawk. Gotta be honest with you, it’s a tough run ahead. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for any decent surf around here. The only spot that even gets a mention is Block Island, and it’s a tricky one.

The water’s hanging around 68°, which is a bit colder than we’d expect for late July – about 3° off the mark. Nothing to write home about there.

We’re looking at a long, dry spell right from the start. From Monday the 27th of July all the way through to the end of the month, it’s a write-off. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the swell is weak and messy. The combined energy is barely a whisper.

The first faint glimmer of hope comes on Thursday the 30th of July. The morning swell is a messy 5 ft from the south with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 334 – that’s moderate, at least. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s not completely blown out, but it’s still marginal. Tide could be a factor. The afternoon cleans up a touch with a lighter cross-shore breeze, but the swell drops to 4 ft.

Friday the 31st of July is interesting. The wind swings around to the north-northeast, giving us a clean, cross-offshore breeze. The morning is a bit windy, but the afternoon eases off. The swell is a modest 4 ft from the south, period around 8-9 seconds, and the combined energy is 177. It’s surfable, but it’s nothing to get excited about. It’s clean, but small.

Saturday the 1st of August starts with glassy conditions, but the swell is tiny – 3 ft and dropping. The energy is only 149. It’s a no-go.

Then it gets worse. From Sunday the 2nd of August through to the end of the 16-day window, we’re looking at nearly two weeks of flat to tiny, wind-blown junk. The combined energy drops into double digits, and the swell is rarely above 2 ft. There’s a moment on Monday the 3rd of August where the swell bumps up to 6 ft from the south, but it’s accompanied by a strong onshore wind and the comment is “poor surf conditions.” The energy is 593, but it’s a messy, onshore wall of water. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than anything for a paddle surfer.

The best on offer? Honestly, there isn’t a standout. If I had to pick the least-worst, it’s Friday the 31st of July afternoon at Block Island. A clean 4 ft south swell with a cross-offshore breeze. It’s small, but it’s the only time in the whole run where the wind is working with us. The break is a rarely-breaking point, so don’t expect much. Crowds are often a problem here, so on a clean day, it’ll be busy.

The second week is a total write-off. Don’t bother checking the charts until we’re past the 10th of August. It’s a long, quiet stretch.

Stay patient, my friends. It’ll turn around eventually.

Rusty

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