Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with 285 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s 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 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period. 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what's happening for Block Island.
To be straight with you, this is a tough forecast. The next twelve days or so are looking pretty grim. We've got a long spell from now, starting Monday the 17th, all the way through to Thursday the 28th of August, where the surf is just not worth paddling out for. It's a real run of small, weak, choppy conditions. Wave heights are mostly below 3.3 ft and the energy is just pathetic, often in the double-digits (26-149) which is barely a ripple. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, keeping things messy. It's gonna be a frustrating wait for anyone wanting a wave.
Then, there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Friday the 29th of August is the one clear standout, and it's worth circling on your calendar. After all that flatness, a proper groundswell shows up. On the Saturday morning, we'll see 4.3 ft of swell from the SSE, with a very long period of 13 seconds and moderate wave energy (653). The wind is a gentle offshore from the NE, so it'll be clean. That afternoon, it gets even better: 6.2 ft of SE swell with an 11-second period. The energy bumps up to 959, which is strong, and it goes glassy with light westerly winds. This is the best session on offer, but keep in mind that Block Island is a point break that rarely breaks, and crowds are often a problem here. Expect company if you go. The water temp anomaly is unremarkable, so it's about average for the time of year.
By Sunday the 30th, the quality drops back off quickly with onshore winds and smaller, weaker swell. There’s a brief window on the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September with a tiny 2.6 ft offshore wind swell, but it's only 6 seconds period and the energy is weak (76). It’s clean but there’s just not enough oomph.
That's the story. A long dry spell, then one hell of a Saturday on the 29th. Set your alarm.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 25°C on Wed night, min 19°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 4 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 5 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 28 | 149 | 285 | 134 | 103 | 68 | 64 | 55 | 44 | 29 | 9 | 25 | 28 | 17 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 20 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 11:28PM0.84m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:24AM0.07m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | 7:44 | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — |
mm | 4 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 5 |
| kJ | 11 | — | 285 | 134 | 103 | 62 | 44 | 55 | 44 | 29 | 9 | 25 | 28 | 17 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 12 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 5 | ENE 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSE 6 | SW 4 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 24 | 7 | 68 | 64 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 4 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 9 | E 7 | ESE 7 | SE 14 | SE 14 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | — | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 6 | SE 6 | NNW 2 | NNW 2 | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | NNW 2 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | — |
| kJ | 28 | 149 | 111 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 20 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1696 | 117 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 138 | 160 | 767 | 1812 | 207 | 634 | 767 | 221 | 274 | 966 | 49 |
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.
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