Rhode Island
Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on SSE swell at 4s.
Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on SSE swell at 4s.
Best window·Monday 9AM–12PM·2-3+ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Matunuck, 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on SSE swell at 4s.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 8s and light winds out of the NNW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with strong N wind at 14mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. 1-2ft waves to start the day on NNE swell at 4s.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Good. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3+ft with light winds out of the NW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Matunuck turns Good.
Check Matunuck from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Matunuck is one of Rhode Island's most beloved surf spots, situated along the south-facing coastline of South Kingstown where it catches South Atlantic swells with surprising consistency for New England. The break produces punchy, powerful beach break waves that can get hollow on the right combination of south or southeast swell and offshore northerly winds, making it a local favorite when conditions align. Its WNW-facing transect means it's well-positioned to pick up energy from both summer hurricane swells and the powerful fall and winter nor'easters that sweep up the East Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Matunuck is 1-2ft with a 4.4s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Matunuck is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft SSE wind swell swell at 4s, a 1.7ft SSE 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 Matunuck is Monday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 10.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Matunuck works best with a S swell and WNW 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 Matunuck. 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.
Matunuck is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Matunuck is one of Rhode Island's most beloved surf spots, situated along the south-facing coastline of South Kingstown where it catches South Atlantic swells with surprising consistency for New England. The break produces punchy, powerful beach break waves that can get hollow on the right combination of south or southeast swell and offshore northerly winds, making it a local favorite when conditions align. Its WNW-facing transect means it's well-positioned to pick up energy from both summer hurricane swells and the powerful fall and winter nor'easters that sweep up the East Coast.
The prime season at Matunuck 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 Matunuck include strong currents, rip currents, crowds on peak swell days, cold water, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Matunuck 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).
