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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SSW winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light NW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate N wind around 8mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 16mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 14mph SSE winds.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 1-2ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is SSW at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Scarborough State Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.8ft SSE primary swell at 8s, a 0.9ft 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 Scarborough State Beach is Monday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.1s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
