Maine
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with barely a breath of wind.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the W. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 10mph NNE winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 19mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with strong N wind at 15mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on E swell at 10s with 9mph NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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 Drakes Island turns Good.
Check Drakes Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 0-1ft with a 4.5s swell period. Wind is ESE at 2mph. 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 Drakes Island is 0-1ft, produced by a 2.3ft 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 Drakes Island is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 9.2s 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. 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).
