Swell Intel

Old Orchard Beach Surf Forecast, Maine

Maine

Pine Point Beach1-2ftFerry Beach2-3ftScarborough Beach2-3ft
Old Orchard Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
8.35s
Wind
7mph
ENE / Gusts 12mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.9ft @ 8sSSE
Wind Swell
2.4ft @ 5sENE

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
Poor

Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 8s with light winds out of the S. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s SSE|4-7mph S
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with moderate NNE wind around 8mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s SSE|8-9mph NNE
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Old Orchard Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
ESE
Best Wind
NW
Season
Fall

Old Orchard Beach is a wide, sandy stretch along the southern Maine coastline that picks up northeast and east swells funneling into Saco Bay. The beach break produces mellow, rolling waves that are forgiving enough for beginners, though fall nor'easters can pump up punchy, hollow sections worth chasing. Its proximity to Portland and the vacation town atmosphere means crowds can build in summer, but the long beach spreads surfers out nicely.

Crowds in summerCold waterRip currentsPier pilingsStrong nor'easter currents

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Old Orchard Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Old Orchard Beach?
The current wave height at Old Orchard Beach is 1-2ft with a 8.35s swell period. Wind is ENE at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Old Orchard Beach surf forecast?
Our Old Orchard 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Old Orchard Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Old Orchard Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.9ft SSE primary swell at 8s, a 2.4ft ENE wind swell swell at 5s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Old Orchard Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Old Orchard Beach is Wednesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.15s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.