Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with 71 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 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here with the look ahead for our stretch of coast.
First up, I gotta be straight with you—it’s been a tough run and it’s gonna stay that way for a while. The water temp is sitting at 70°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing special there. The key spot we’re watching is Block Island, a point break that’s exposed to the swell. Now, this break is a bit of a tease—it rarely breaks as it is, so you need the right conditions to line up. Unfortunately, for the next week and a half, the wave energy is just weak to moderate, with combined energy readings mostly in the 40 to 100 range (weak) and a few bumping up into the low 100s (moderate). The swell is tiny, mostly 1 ft to 2 ft, and when it does show a pulse, the wind is all over the place—cross-shore, cross-on, or even onshore—making for choppy, messy conditions. There’s a real gap here with no surf worth paddling out for from now through the end of August.
Things start to look a little more interesting right at the start of September. On Tuesday the 1st, early morning, we get a light breeze from the NE, clean conditions, and a bit more energy in the water—combined energy at 183, so into the moderate zone. Swell is still small at 2 ft but it’s from the SE with a period of 14 seconds, which is a long-period groundswell, meaning better shaped waves but longer lulls between sets. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The afternoon goes back to cross-shore chop, so don’t sleep in if you want the best of that day.
Then we get a bigger pulse of energy rolling in for Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th. On Thursday the 3rd, the swell jumps to 3 ft from the SSE with a period of 13 seconds, and the combined energy hits 482—that’s strong wave energy. But there’s a catch: strong winds. Thursday morning has a heavy rain and strong cross-onshore wind at 28 mph, so it’s messy. The afternoon is cross-shore with a strong breeze at 25 mph, still a mess. Not the day to paddle out.
Friday the 4th is the standout in this entire outlook. Morning brings a moderate offshore breeze from the N at 9 mph, clean conditions, with the swell still at 3 ft from the SE, period 12 seconds, and combined energy at 382 (strong). This is the best window we’ve got—clean, offshore wind, solid groundswell energy, and the swell direction is right on the SE optimum for Block Island. It’s still a small wave, but for a point break that rarely fires, this is your chance. The afternoon stays light and clean-ish with a light cross-shore breeze, but the morning is the pick.
After that, it fades again. The weekend of the 5th and 6th sees the swell drop back to 2 ft–3 ft, winds pick up onshore, and energy levels drop into the weak-to-moderate range. The 6th and 7th are blown out with strong onshore winds and messy surf.
So, to wrap it up: there’s a big dry spell until the very end of the first week of September. The true standout is Friday morning, September 4th at Block Island—clean offshore wind, a solid 3 ft SE groundswell, and strong energy. It’s not a big day, but for a spot that rarely breaks, it’s worth a look. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or just plain poor.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts—things can change.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun night, min 19°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 18°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 12 | SE 12 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 22 | 69 | 32 | 53 | 37 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 50 | 69 | 43 | 40 | 65 | 62 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 35 | 42 | 43 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 5:53PM0.83m | 6:12AM0.69m | 6:36PM0.86m | 6:56AM0.76m | 7:13PM0.89m | 7:35AM0.82m | 7:47PM0.91m | 8:10AM0.87m | 8:18PM0.93m | 8:43AM0.91m | 8:50PM0.94m | 9:14AM0.95m | 9:25PM0.94m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:15AM0.22m | 00:18AM0.20m | 12:06PM0.18m | 00:57AM0.14m | 12:50PM0.15m | 1:31AM0.09m | 1:30PM0.11m | 2:02AM0.05m | 2:08PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.02m | 2:43PM0.07m | 2:55AM0.01m | 3:19PM0.05m | 3:22AM0.00m | |||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 6 | SSW 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SW 5 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 |
10 | 11 | 69 | 24 | 11 | 37 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 50 | 69 | 43 | 40 | 65 | 62 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 35 | 27 | 43 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 10 | E 11 | E 10 | S 6 | E 10 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 |
11 | 22 | 14 | 32 | 19 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 27 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 25 | 32 | 42 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 7 | SE 12 | SE 12 | E 6 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 6 | SE 6 | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 7 | SE 6 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
23 | 4 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 4 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 27 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | SE 5 | — | WSW 4 | SSW 6 | WSW 4 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | W 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 4 | — | S 6 | — | NW 3 | W 3 | NNW 3 |
3 | 5 | — | 4 | 53 | 5 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 10 | — | 47 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 702 | 159 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 195 | 49 | 49 | 160 | 160 | 159 | 1148 | 195 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 54 | 24 | 29 |
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.











