Elbow Ledge Surf Forecast, Rhode Island

Rhode Island

Bailey's Beach4-5+ft Ruggles5-6ft 1st Beach (Eastons Beach)5-6ft

Current Conditions

Poor - Fair

Wave Height

6-7ft

overhead

Swell Period

8.1s

Wind

8mph

SSE / Gusts 13mph

Conditions

Poor - Fair

Active Swells

Wind Swell

4.7ft @ 8sS

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days

Wed, Apr 18-9ft

Poor

Slim pickings today — 7-8ft and poor with 16mph SW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm

9s S|16-18mph SW

Thu, Apr 23-4ft

Fair

First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on S swell at 8s with 18mph NNE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.

6am9am12pm3pm

7s S|18-20mph NE

Fri, Apr 32-3ft

Poor

Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.

6am9am12pm3pm

6s S|2-8mph SSE

Sun

Forecast Charts

Elbow Ledge Surf Spot Guide

Break

Reef

Bottom

Rock

Level

Advanced

Crowd

Light

Best Swell

SSE

Best Wind

Season

Fall

Elbow Ledge is a raw, exposed reef break tucked along the rocky Rhode Island coastline near the southern shore, where submerged ledges and rock shelves shape punchy, fast-breaking waves with surprising power. The spot comes alive during fall groundswells out of the south-southeast, producing hollow, ledging sections that reward experienced surfers willing to hunt it down. Its relative obscurity and technical bottom make it one of Rhode Island's more challenging and rewarding discoveries for those in the know.

Shallow rock ledgeSharp rocksStrong currentsRemote locationCold water

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Elbow Ledge Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Elbow Ledge?

The current wave height at Elbow Ledge is 6-7ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is SSE at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair.

How accurate is the Elbow Ledge surf forecast?

Our Elbow Ledge 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.

What is the breaking wave height at Elbow Ledge?

The current breaking wave height at Elbow Ledge is 6-7ft, produced by a 4.7ft S wind swell swell at 8s. 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.

When is the best time to surf Elbow Ledge?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Elbow Ledge is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 6.45s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.