Block Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me level with you straight up about Block Island. This is a rare-break point that really needs everything to line up, and for the next 16 days… well, it’s a tough stretch.

The whole run starts with a long, slow grind. From the 31st of August right through to the morning of the 4th of September, there’s simply nothing doing – flat, wind-ruined, or both. We’re talking days of nothing. The combined wave energy is tanking, barely hitting 39 (weak) at best, with tiny 1ft windswell bumping into onshore breezes. It’s a write-off.

Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a bit of a bump, with a 6ft swell from the ESE and a period of 6 seconds, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, turning it into a lumpy, choppy mess. The energy hits 277 (moderate), but the quality is just not there for a point break. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup, honestly.

The first real glimmer, and I mean a glimmer, comes on the morning of Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got glassy conditions with a light NNE breeze, and a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE. The energy is still low at 44 (weak), and the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s not going to be anything memorable. But it’s clean. For a spot that rarely breaks, even a clean 2ft wave is a session saver.

Then we get another blank spell until the 6th of September. Sunday morning the 6th brings a 6ft bump from the NE with a short 6-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off at 25 mph. The energy is moderate at 276, but the swell direction (NE) is not the optimum (SE) for the break, and that short period means it’ll be a bit walled up and unruly.

The standout window, for what it’s worth, is the 7th of September. Monday morning gives us a 3ft groundswell from the E with a long 11-second period, putting the energy at 170 (moderate). The wind is a light, clean cross-off from the NE. This is the best we’ve got. The longer period suggests better shape, but the size is tiny. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The water temperature is 70°, which is about normal for this time of year.

The next slight uptick is the 9th of September. Wednesday morning we see glassy conditions with a 5ft swell from the SSW with a 7-second period, and the energy is a solid 254 (moderate). The wind stays glassy right through the afternoon. The swell is a bit too small to get really excited about, and the direction is SSW, not the preferred SE, but clean, glassy waves at a point break are a rare treat. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook, but it’s still a long way off.

Beyond that, the 10th of September onward fades out into small, wind-affected leftovers. The energy drops back into the double digits, and we’re back to tiny 1.0ft dribblers with cross-shore wind. It’s a grim end to the run.

So, to call it: the 7th of September is the pick for the patient surfer, with that long-period groundswell and clean wind. The 9th of September is the closest thing to a standout, with glassy conditions and a moderate amount of energy. Everything else is a tough sell. For a break that rarely breaks, this is a pretty ordinary window.

Stay safe, stay patient.

Rusty.

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