Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, S swell with 225 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Block Island this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Block Island in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM. 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 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let me tell you, it's a tough stretch ahead for us here on Block Island. We've got a solid two-week plus window, but honestly, there's not a whole lot to get excited about. The waves are going to be small and messy for days on end.
Looking at the whole picture, the first real chance for anything rideable is a long way off. From now until late in the month, it's a wasteland. The energy is weak, with combined swell energy barely cracking 100 (62) on the 22nd. The swells are short-period wind slop, never clean, and often crossed up by the wind. It’s more of a kiteboarding scene than a surfing one.
Then, a glimmer of hope appears around Saturday the 29th. We wake up to a bit of cleanup. The wind is offshore from the NE at 12 mph, and we get a pulse of 4 ft swell from the south. The combined energy jumps to a solid 239, which is the best we’ve seen. The period is a bit on the short side at 9 seconds, but for Block Island, that first glassy morning surf in a long time could be a real treat. It's a "marginal" call, so don't expect perfection, but it's your best bet.
After that, it falls apart again until Thursday, September 3rd. That morning, the wind finally goes clean offshore from the NW at 16 mph, but the swell is tiny at 2 ft from the SE. It’s clean and glassy, but barely a ripple.
The one real standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday the 29th. The Block Island point break sees a pulse of consistency with that 4 ft south swell and clean conditions in the morning. The water temp is around 70°, which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year, but still fine. Crowds are often an issue here, but on a marginal day like that, you might have it to yourself.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 24°C on Sun night, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the N by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 17 | 57 | 50 | 144 | 190 | 141 | 108 | 51 | 18 | 27 | 28 | 19 | 14 | 64 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:56PM0.80m | 3:09AM0.60m | 4:02PM0.79m | 4:20AM0.60m | 5:03PM0.80m | 5:21AM0.64m | 5:53PM0.83m | 6:12AM0.69m | 6:36PM0.86m | 6:56AM0.76m | 7:13PM0.89m | 7:35AM0.82m | 7:47PM0.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:43PM0.27m | 8:42AM0.25m | 10:43PM0.26m | 10:14AM0.24m | 11:34PM0.23m | 11:15AM0.22m | 00:18AM0.20m | 12:06PM0.18m | 00:57AM0.14m | 12:50PM0.15m | 1:31AM0.09m | 1:30PM0.11m | 2:02AM0.05m | ||||||||
6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 7 | S 6 | SE 12 | S 6 | SSW 7 | SE 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
20 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 26 | 26 | 19 | 17 | 11 | 50 | 22 | 190 | 141 | 19 | 51 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | N 3 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 7 | E 7 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 |
13 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 27 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | S 5 | E 7 | E 6 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 13 | SE 12 | — | E 7 | — | — | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 6 | ESE 5 | — | E 13 | E 12 |
1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 23 | — | 4 | — | — | 18 | 18 | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 2 | NNE 3 | — | ENE 2 | E 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | S 5 | SW 5 | S 6 | — | — | SSW 7 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | WSW 2 | SW 3 | S 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 |
— | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 20 | 28 | 5 | 57 | 13 | 144 | — | — | 108 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 64 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 159 | 198 | 198 | 634 | 2715 | 204 | 665 | 59 | 155 | 198 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 211 | 25 | 49 | 49 | 249 | 844 | 844 | 25 |
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.











