Rhode Island
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Scarborough State Beach, 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. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on SE swell at 9s with moderate SSW wind around 12mph.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSE swell at 8s with 7mph from the WSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 9mph E winds.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 9mph SW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with 11mph SW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 17mph.
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Scarborough State Beach is one of Rhode Island's most popular surf destinations, offering mellow, forgiving beach break waves that roll in from Block Island Sound along its wide sandy shoreline. The WNW-facing orientation means it picks up south and southeast swells particularly well, with fall hurricane swells producing the most consistent and punchy surf of the year. Its accessible location and generally friendly waves make it a go-to spot for Rhode Island's beginner and intermediate surfers, though it can surprise on the right swell with some genuinely fun peaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Scarborough State Beach is 3-4ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is SW at 9mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Scarborough State Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.8ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft SW 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 Scarborough State Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Scarborough State Beach works best with a SSE 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 Scarborough State Beach. 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.
Scarborough State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Scarborough State Beach is one of Rhode Island's most popular surf destinations, offering mellow, forgiving beach break waves that roll in from Block Island Sound along its wide sandy shoreline. The WNW-facing orientation means it picks up south and southeast swells particularly well, with fall hurricane swells producing the most consistent and punchy surf of the year. Its accessible location and generally friendly waves make it a go-to spot for Rhode Island's beginner and intermediate surfers, though it can surprise on the right swell with some genuinely fun peaks.
The prime season at Scarborough State Beach 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 Scarborough State Beach include crowds, rip currents, strong shore break on bigger swells, swimmers in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Scarborough State Beach 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.
