Rhode Island
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Block Island for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 6s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 4–5ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and very poor conditions with 22mph out of the SW.
Thu, Jul 2: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 4-5ft waves, moderate WSW wind around 11mph, poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 6s with 7mph WNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 5s with light W winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
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 8.9s swell period. Wind is SSW at 8mph and conditions are rated 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 1ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SSE secondary swell at 6s, a 0.6ft SSW 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 Block Island is Thursday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 6.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
