Maine
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Long Sands, 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: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on ESE swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on S swell at 6s with moderate WSW wind around 8mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the W and dropping conditions to fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 7mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 6s with 10mph from the WSW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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Long Sands is a wide, gently sloping sandy beach break in York, Maine, offering some of the most accessible surf in the state. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic fetch, it picks up Northeast and East swells generated by Gulf of Maine storm systems, producing mellow, rolling waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The beach's broad expanse and consistent sand bottom make it a welcoming entry point into Maine's cold-water surf scene, with fall delivering the best combo of swell energy and offshore winds.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Long Sands is 5-6ft with a 10.1s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Long Sands 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 Long Sands is Saturday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 7ft waves, a 9.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Long Sands works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Long Sands. 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.
Long Sands is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Long Sands is a wide, gently sloping sandy beach break in York, Maine, offering some of the most accessible surf in the state. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic fetch, it picks up Northeast and East swells generated by Gulf of Maine storm systems, producing mellow, rolling waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The beach's broad expanse and consistent sand bottom make it a welcoming entry point into Maine's cold-water surf scene, with fall delivering the best combo of swell energy and offshore winds.
The prime season at Long Sands 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 Long Sands include cold water, rip currents, crowds in summer, strong currents during storms, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Long Sands 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.
