Surf Forecasts:
Matunuck surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, S swell with 113 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Matunuck this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Matunuck in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5PM. 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 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Matunuck over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me tell you straight up: this is a rough stretch for Matunuck. We’ve got a solid 16 days of forecast in front of us, but honestly, there’s not a single standout session in the whole run. The finder isn’t recommending any of these days, and I can see why. The ocean is just not cooperating.
The overall pattern is small, weak, and messy. For the first several days, through the 22nd of August, we’re looking at tiny swell, mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft, with a short period of 4 to 8 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, so the waves will be weak and gutless. The winds are mostly cross-on or onshore, keeping things choppy and uninviting. The combined swell energy is low, often in the 20s to 70s (weak energy), meaning there’s just no power in the water.
We do get a bit of a bump in energy around the 24th of August, with the combined swell energy hitting 133 (moderate wave energy) on Monday afternoon, but the swell is still only 4 ft from the south, and the period is a short 7 seconds. The wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bumpy, choppy mess. Not worth the paddle.
The end of the month and into September starts to show a little more promise in terms of energy, but it’s still not good enough. On the 27th of August, the combined energy jumps to 185 (moderate) and then to 344 (strong wave energy) that afternoon, but the swell is just 3 ft to 4 ft, and the period is a short 6 to 7 seconds. The wind is cross-off or cross, so it might be clean, but the swell is too weak and short-period to make anything worth riding.
The biggest combined energy of the whole run hits on the 30th of August, with 441 (strong wave energy) on Sunday morning. That’s a 4 ft swell from the southeast with a 12-second period. That’s a real groundswell, and the wind is cross-off from the north at 19 mph, so it’ll be clean. But even then, the finder still says “poor surf conditions.” The swell might have some push, but the direction is southeast, and Matunuck is sheltered, needing swell from the SE to work. The optimum direction is southeast, so that’s a match, but the quality just isn’t there. For a spot that’s very consistent and a reef break, this is a rare long stretch of nothingness.
The water temperature is 70°F, which is 0.5°F cooler than normal. That’s about average for the time of year, nothing to get excited about.
If you’re a kitesurfer, the stronger winds on days like the 29th and 30th of August, with the 4 ft swell and clean cross-off winds, might look more interesting. For paddle surfing, it’s a write-off.
There’s a gap of zero good surf from the start of the forecast all the way to the end of the 16 days. It’s a blank run, and for an area like this, that’s pretty normal when the wind and swell just don’t align. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 4 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
71 | 73 | 51 | 42 | 35 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 23 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 54 | 62 | 21 | 39 | 20 | 74 | 113 | 59 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 12:49PM0.95m | 1:05AM0.76m | 1:40PM0.89m | 1:57AM0.69m | 2:35PM0.84m | 2:55AM0.65m | 3:34PM0.82m | 3:57AM0.65m | 4:33PM0.83m | 4:58AM0.67m | 5:27PM0.86m | 5:52AM0.73m | 6:15PM0.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:11PM0.18m | 6:49AM0.14m | 8:15PM0.25m | 7:34AM0.20m | 9:38PM0.28m | 8:38AM0.24m | 10:55PM0.27m | 10:07AM0.25m | 11:52PM0.23m | 11:21AM0.22m | 00:34AM0.19m | 12:13PM0.18m | 1:08AM0.13m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 13 | ESE 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 7 | SE 11 | S 7 |
71 | 73 | 51 | 42 | 35 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 74 | 19 | 59 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | E 4 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 15 | S 5 | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 9 | SE 12 | ESE 5 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | E 6 | SE 11 |
3 | 1 | 22 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 2 | — | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | — | SSE 9 | S 5 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 15 | S 14 | SE 14 | — | — | S 6 | S 5 | SE 12 | E 5 | E 6 | — | E 6 |
3 | 6 | 12 | 4 | — | 8 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 2 | SSW 6 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | E 5 | ESE 5 | — | SSW 5 | — | — | S 7 | — |
— | — | — | 1 | 21 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 54 | 62 | — | 39 | — | — | 113 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 618 | 143 | 66 | 224 | 173 | 618 | 2738 | 127 | 626 | 726 | 626 | 929 | 3 | 173 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Matunuck Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Matunuck provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Matunuck can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Matunuck 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 (Matunuck) 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 Matunuck 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.
Matunuck is 9 km (6 miles) from Narragansett Pier. If you plan a vacation in Rhode Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Narragansett Pier. Narragansett Pier has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











