Rhode Island
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on ESE swell at 8s with 11mph WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Morning kicks off with 3-4ft on S swell at 7s.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 10mph from the SW, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSE swell at 14s with moderate SW wind around 10mph. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and poor by then.
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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 2-3ft with a 9.25s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Block Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 3.1ft SE primary 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 6.4s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
