Maine
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Drakes Island for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SE swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SE swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on SSE swell at 6s with light W winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 6s with 7mph W winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the NW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SE swell at 9s with gentle WSW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
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 1-2ft with a 9.25s swell period. Wind is SSE at 9mph and 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 Drakes Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft S 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 Wednesday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.25s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
