Rhode Island
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor early on.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Scarborough State Beach for the cleanest windows.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out very poor with 1-2ft waves. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor conditions.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the N. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 3s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on N swell at 3s and strong N wind at 16mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on NNE swell at 4s.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 11s and moderate N wind around 11mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Scarborough State Beach turns Good.
Check Scarborough State Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 8.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 10mph. 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 Scarborough State Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft SSE 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 Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. 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).
