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. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSE swell at 7s with 7mph WSW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 8s with 9mph from the E. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with 11mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon 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 2-3ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph 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 2-3ft, produced by a 2ft 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 Scarborough State Beach is Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 7.7s 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.
