Rhode Island
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Matunuck for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2ft waves, calm winds, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Wed, Jul 1: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 17mph SW winds.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with 12mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 16mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSE swell at 6s with moderate WNW wind around 9mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Jul 4: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light W winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 17mph.
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 8.85s swell period. Wind is S 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 Matunuck is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.8ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft SSE secondary swell at 6s, a 0.5ft 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 Matunuck is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
