Maine
Patience pays off today — morning is very poor with 1-2ft.
Patience pays off today — morning is very poor with 1-2ft.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Mother's Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Mother's 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: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 0-1ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 1-2ft and poor conditions.
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 8mph by PM.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with moderate NNE wind around 10mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 1-2ft waves. Winds back off through the day and conditions clean up to poor by PM.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on E swell at 10s with moderate NW wind around 9mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Mother's Beach turns Good.
Check Mother's Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Mother's Beach in Old Orchard Beach, Maine offers accessible beach breaks with sandy bottom conditions ideal for learning surfers. The northwest-facing beach receives best swell from northeastern Atlantic storms and autumn swells, providing consistent waist-to-shoulder-high waves during peak season. The gradual sandy bottom and mellow beach break character make this a welcoming spot for beginners looking to progress in Maine's northern New England waters.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Mother's Beach is 1-2ft with a 4.6s swell period. Wind is SE at 2mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Mother's Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft SE 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 Mother's Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Mother's Beach 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 Mother's 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.
Mother's Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Mother's Beach in Old Orchard Beach, Maine offers accessible beach breaks with sandy bottom conditions ideal for learning surfers. The northwest-facing beach receives best swell from northeastern Atlantic storms and autumn swells, providing consistent waist-to-shoulder-high waves during peak season. The gradual sandy bottom and mellow beach break character make this a welcoming spot for beginners looking to progress in Maine's northern New England waters.
The prime season at Mother's 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 Mother's Beach include cold water, seasonal storms, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Mother's 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).
