Rhode Island
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 5s with moderate SW wind around 8mph.
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 5s with moderate SW wind around 8mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Bailey's Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bailey's Beach, Rhode Island. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with moderate SW wind around 8mph and poor conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with light winds out of the NNW.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 13mph N winds.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 16mph out of the N.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 10mph N winds.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Bailey's Beach turns Good.
Check Bailey's Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Bailey's Beach is a mellow Rhode Island beach break tucked along the Aquidneck Island coastline near Newport, facing ENE toward the open Atlantic. The spot picks up south and southeast swells that wrap into the bay, producing slow, rolling waves well-suited for beginners and longboarders looking for a relaxed session. Its sheltered orientation and sandy bottom make it a forgiving option when larger exposed spots along the Rhode Island coast are too powerful.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bailey's Beach is 1-2ft with a 4.6s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bailey's Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SE wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.1ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft SE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1ft SW wind swell swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Bailey's Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 5.3s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bailey's Beach works best with a SSE swell and NNW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Bailey's Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Bailey's Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Bailey's Beach is a mellow Rhode Island beach break tucked along the Aquidneck Island coastline near Newport, facing ENE toward the open Atlantic. The spot picks up south and southeast swells that wrap into the bay, producing slow, rolling waves well-suited for beginners and longboarders looking for a relaxed session. Its sheltered orientation and sandy bottom make it a forgiving option when larger exposed spots along the Rhode Island coast are too powerful.
The prime season at Bailey's Beach is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Bailey's Beach include swimmers, beach crowds in summer, rip currents, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bailey's Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
