Rhode Island
Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 9mph.
Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 9mph.
Best window·Tuesday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Block Island, 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. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 9mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SW swell at 4s with light winds out of the NW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on N swell at 3s with 15mph N winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on NE swell at 5s with 18mph out of the NNE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on E swell at 10s and 11mph from the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the SW and dropping conditions to very poor.
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 Block Island turns Good.
Check Block Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Block Island, Rhode Island sits roughly 13 miles off the southern coast of the state, offering a unique and uncrowded surf experience for those willing to make the ferry or boat journey. The north-facing exposure at these coordinates picks up residual North Atlantic swells that wrap around the island, producing punchy beach break peaks that can surprise even experienced surfers with their power. Fall is the prime season when hurricane groundswells and nor'easters push quality waves to this remote Rhode Island gem, rewarding the adventurous traveler with uncrowded lineups and stunning coastal scenery.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Block Island is 1-2ft with a 6.3s swell period. Wind is SW at 9mph. 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 Block Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.5ft SE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SE secondary swell at 9s. 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 Block Island is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 10s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Block Island works best with a S swell and N 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 Block Island. 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.
Block Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Block Island, Rhode Island sits roughly 13 miles off the southern coast of the state, offering a unique and uncrowded surf experience for those willing to make the ferry or boat journey. The north-facing exposure at these coordinates picks up residual North Atlantic swells that wrap around the island, producing punchy beach break peaks that can surprise even experienced surfers with their power. Fall is the prime season when hurricane groundswells and nor'easters push quality waves to this remote Rhode Island gem, rewarding the adventurous traveler with uncrowded lineups and stunning coastal scenery.
The prime season at Block Island 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 Block Island include strong currents, rip currents, remote location, cold water, limited emergency access, ferry schedule dependency. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Block Island 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).
