Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SE swell with 192 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with SSE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Block Island in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Block Island surf scene over the next 16 days is mostly a bust. There’s a long stretch of nothing, and then a tiny window of hope. The water’s sitting at 70°, which is about 1° cooler than usual for this time of year, so nothing crazy, just standard summer temps.
Thursday the 20th kicks off with a pathetic 1ft swell from the ESE, cross-shore wind, and wave energy at a weak 36. Don’t bother. Friday and Saturday are the same story: small, choppy, and inconsistent. Sunday the 23rd sees a bump to 3ft from the S, but with onshore wind and thunderstorms, it’s still a no-go. Energy is weak at 67. Monday the 24th has cleaner conditions with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell is only 3ft from the SSW, and the energy is still weak at 88. Not enough.
Then, on Wednesday the 26th of August, we get a real standout. The afternoon session is the one to watch. The wind goes glassy – dead calm, zero knots – and the swell hits 5ft from the SSE with a 7-second period. The combined wave energy jumps to 207, which is moderate, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s your best bet. The Block Island point break will be clean, with that glassy surface making for smooth, peeling waves. The swell direction from the SSE is a good match for this spot, and the size is perfect for intermediates. Keep in mind, this break is a point and rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s special. Crowds are often here, so expect company.
After that, Thursday the 27th still has some swell, but the wind turns cross-off and then cross-on, and the quality drops fast. The rest of the month and into September is a slow grind of tiny, onshore slop. Energy figures are consistently weak, mostly under 100. The 4th of September shows a swell bump to 6ft from the E, with energy at 262, but the wind is cross-on at 12 mph, making it choppy and poor. Not a good call for paddle surfing – that setup might be more interesting for kite surfing.
So, the one solid session is the Wednesday afternoon glass-off on the 26th of August. Everything else is a long, flat wait. The second week looks thin and unreliable.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the W by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | SE 8 | E 4 | SE 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 32 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 36 | 86 | 122 | 64 | 62 | 46 | 22 | 27 | 17 | 108 | 183 | 169 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off |
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 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 12 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SE 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 20 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 22 | 122 | 64 | 14 | 46 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 183 | 169 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 7 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SW 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 18 | 27 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | E 7 | SE 14 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SE 13 | SE 8 | — | E 7 | E 7 | — | SE 11 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 6 | E 8 | — | E 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 18 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 5 | N 3 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 4 | E 4 | SE 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | W 4 | — | SW 6 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | S 6 | E 4 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 5 | 16 | 22 | 32 | 19 | 13 | 22 | 36 | 86 | 9 | — | 62 | 7 | — | — | — | 108 | 10 | 26 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 159 | 198 | 198 | 634 | 1084 | 204 | 665 | 156 | 115 | 249 | 219 | 195 | 29 | 102 | 24 | 24 | 198 | 191 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
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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