Maine
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Drakes Island, Maine. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on ESE swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on S swell at 6s and light winds out of the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 14mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SSE swell at 7s — 8mph SW winds.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor conditions with 10mph from the WSW.
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Drakes Island offers a sheltered beach break on Maine's southern coast, where consistent Atlantic swells wrap around the point and peel onto sandy banks. The westerly-facing shores here pick up autumn swells particularly well while remaining protected from northeast winter storms by the island's geography. This is a mellow, accessible wave with plenty of room to spread out, making it ideal for improving your skills away from heavier Maine breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Drakes Island is 5-6ft with a 10.1s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Drakes Island is 5-6ft, produced by a 4.5ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft 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 Drakes Island is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 5ft waves, a 10.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Drakes Island works best with a E 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 Drakes Island. 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.
Drakes Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Drakes Island offers a sheltered beach break on Maine's southern coast, where consistent Atlantic swells wrap around the point and peel onto sandy banks. The westerly-facing shores here pick up autumn swells particularly well while remaining protected from northeast winter storms by the island's geography. This is a mellow, accessible wave with plenty of room to spread out, making it ideal for improving your skills away from heavier Maine breaks.
The prime season at Drakes Island 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 Drakes Island include cold water, seasonal crowds during fall swell season, rocky outcrops. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Drakes Island 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.
