Surf Forecasts:
Block Island surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SW swell with 154 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Block Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, here’s the deal as I see it.
I’ve been staring at the charts for Block Island and, to be honest, this is about as grim as it gets for a 16-day outlook. We’re looking at a whole heap of nothing for the first stretch. From the 16th right through the 20th of September, it’s a total washout. Waves are in the ankle-to-waist range with cross-onshore slop, and there’s just no energy to work with. The gap here is enormous – nearly five days of junk. You’d be better off on a boogie board.
The first sign of life comes on the 21st and holds through the 22nd. A push of NE swell builds things up to the head-high range, and the offshore winds are clean. But here’s the problem: the period is a short 6-7 seconds. That’s classic windswell, not a groundswell. It’ll be walled-up, shifty mush that closes out in one section after another. The combined energy figures say 262–318 (moderate), which tells you there’s something there, but the short period is a real handicap. It’s going to look a lot better from the beach than it will from the lineup.
Then on the 23rd, the wind swings onshore and that’s that for the swell. The 24th brings in a big 1.5m but it’s a choppy mess from the S-SE, and the winds are all over the shop. That whole spell is a write-off.
The only other thing that catches my eye is the 30th. The combined energy jumps to 370 (moderate) with a 14-second period, but it’s coming from the S-SW, which is the wrong angle for this place. The 1st of October shows a bigger energy reading of 730 (moderate) and a head-high groundswell, but the description is "marginal" at best and the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s the most promising data point of the whole run, but given it’s nine days out, you can’t trust it one bit. It’s a long-range tease if I’ve ever seen one.
Look, this break is marked as "rarely breaks" for a reason. It needs a very particular swell angle and period to fire. This forecast has none of the right elements. The wind is wrong, the swells are the wrong kind, and when they do show up, they don’t have the period or direction to make it work. It’s a complete wiper. Don’t bother getting your hopes up. I’d be taking up skateboarding for the next two weeks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SW 5 | WSW 5 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 5 | ESE 8 | SE 11 | S 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 47 | 69 | 22 | 21 | 36 | 23 | 19 | 50 | 138 | 71 | 29 | 29 | 61 | 68 | 76 | 117 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 12:09PM0.88m | 00:20AM0.66m | 1:03PM0.82m | 1:13AM0.61m | 2:11PM0.77m | 2:30AM0.59m | 3:24PM0.75m | 3:49AM0.61m | 4:27PM0.76m | 4:52AM0.66m | 5:17PM0.78m | 5:42AM0.73m | 5:58PM0.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:44PM0.22m | 5:32AM0.20m | 7:58PM0.27m | 6:24AM0.25m | 9:08PM0.29m | 7:41AM0.28m | 10:08PM0.27m | 9:50AM0.27m | 10:58PM0.24m | 10:54AM0.24m | 11:39PM0.19m | 11:45AM0.19m | 00:14AM0.13m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 45 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 10 | 18 | 27 | 71 | 12 | 29 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSW 6 | SW 5 | SE 14 | E 14 | E 13 |
| kJ | 8 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SW 5 | — | E 7 | — | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | — | E 16 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 22 | 3 | 21 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 7 | 3 | — | 5 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 5 | WSW 5 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | E 4 | SE 3 | S 4 | SSW 6 | N 2 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 47 | 69 | — | 54 | 36 | 10 | 5 | 50 | 138 | 2 | 154 | 122 | 61 | 68 | 76 | 117 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 767 | 1148 | 49 | 159 | 161 | 198 | 49 | 85 | 665 | 847 | 1156 | 847 | 729 | 195 | 30 | 605 | 130 | 605 | 605 | 482 | 336 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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