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, let’s get this straight. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy surf on the menu, with only a glimmer of something better way down the line.
For the first week, from the 16th to the 22nd, we’re looking at surf that’s barely breaking. Mostly in that 1ft to 4ft range, with periods under 8 seconds, so it’s just choppy and disjointed. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or onshore, chopping it up. The energy is weak, with readings mostly in the 20s to 130s, which tells you there’s just nothing out there. There are a few mornings, like the 18th and 20th, where it cleans up with some offshore wind, but the swell is just too small and weak to be worth the paddle. This is a classic case of "better to stay on land."
We slide into another quiet spell for the 23rd and 24th. Still puny surf, still poor conditions. There’s a hint of a longer period swell on the 24th (11 seconds), but it’s tiny. Honestly, the whole first week and a half is a write-off.
Now, here’s the one glimmer of hope, and it’s a long way off. On Wednesday, August 26th, we finally see the energy jump. The morning shows a 4ft SW swell with a 7-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 202, which is moderate. It’s still not perfect, with an onshore wind, but after a week of nothing, this is the most interesting thing on the board. It will be bigger, but that short period will keep it unruly. Still, it’s something.
The rest of that week stays inconsistent. There’s some cleaner windows on the 28th with a 10-second period swell, but it’s only 2ft. We also see some bigger, longer-period energy (11 seconds) on the 27th, but it’s not big enough to make real use of it, and the wind isn't cooperating.
So, to cut a long story short: don't get excited about the next two weeks. The only thing with any sort of pulse is that Wednesday the 26th, but it’s a week and a half out, so treat it as promising, not a guarantee. Everything else is flat, small, and junky. The water temp is right around 72°, which is dead on average for this time of year.
Stay patient, keep the board in the car, but maybe leave the wetsuit at home for a bit.
Rusty
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 | |||||||||||||||||||
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 |
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 |
— | — | — | 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 |
— | — | — | 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 | — |
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.











