Maine
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with glassy conditions.
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with glassy conditions.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Crescent Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crescent Beach, Maine. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with barely a breath of wind.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 6s and light winds out of the WSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 7s with 11mph NNE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the NE and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 15mph out of the N.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on E swell at 10s with 9mph from the NW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Crescent Beach turns Good.
Check Crescent Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Crescent Beach is a charming sandy break tucked along the southern Maine coastline near Cape Elizabeth, facing west-northwest into Saco Bay. The spot picks up long-period swells that wrap around the headlands, producing mellow, rolling waves best suited for beginners and longboarders looking to enjoy Maine's rugged coastal scenery. Fall delivers the most consistent surf as Atlantic storm systems push energy into the bay, and the sparse crowds make it a peaceful escape compared to more well-known New England breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crescent Beach is 0-1ft with a 4.8s swell period. Wind is E at 3mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Crescent Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 2.6ft SSE wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.3ft SE secondary 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 Crescent Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crescent Beach works best with a SE swell and W 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 Crescent 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.
Crescent Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Crescent Beach is a charming sandy break tucked along the southern Maine coastline near Cape Elizabeth, facing west-northwest into Saco Bay. The spot picks up long-period swells that wrap around the headlands, producing mellow, rolling waves best suited for beginners and longboarders looking to enjoy Maine's rugged coastal scenery. Fall delivers the most consistent surf as Atlantic storm systems push energy into the bay, and the sparse crowds make it a peaceful escape compared to more well-known New England breaks.
The prime season at Crescent 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 Crescent Beach include cold water, rip currents, rocks at beach edges, hypothermia risk, seasonal jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crescent 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).
