Maine
Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with glassy conditions.
Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with glassy conditions.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Harbor Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Harbor 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. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with calm winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 6s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SSE and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 1-2ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 1-2ft at very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on ENE swell at 7s.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on E swell at 10s and moderate WNW wind around 11mph. 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 Harbor Beach turns Good.
Check Harbor Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Harbor Beach is a tucked-away surf spot on the southern Maine coast near York, facing WSW into the Gulf of Maine and picking up long-traveling swells that wrap into its sheltered shoreline. The beach break offers mellow, crumbly waves that are forgiving for beginners and longboarders, though powerful northeast ground swells in autumn can push the surf to more punchy, hollow conditions. Surfing in Maine means cold water year-round, wild coastal scenery, and a refreshingly uncrowded lineup that rewards those willing to brave the chill.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Harbor Beach is 0-1ft with a 4.2s swell period. Wind is NE 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 Harbor Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 2ft SE wind swell swell at 4s, 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 Harbor Beach is Sunday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 7.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Harbor Beach works best with a NE swell and SW 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 Harbor 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.
Harbor Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Harbor Beach is a tucked-away surf spot on the southern Maine coast near York, facing WSW into the Gulf of Maine and picking up long-traveling swells that wrap into its sheltered shoreline. The beach break offers mellow, crumbly waves that are forgiving for beginners and longboarders, though powerful northeast ground swells in autumn can push the surf to more punchy, hollow conditions. Surfing in Maine means cold water year-round, wild coastal scenery, and a refreshingly uncrowded lineup that rewards those willing to brave the chill.
The prime season at Harbor 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 Harbor Beach include cold water, rip currents, rocks near shore, lobster trap lines, hypothermia risk. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Harbor 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).
