Maine
2-3+ft waves to start the day on SE swell at 4s.
2-3+ft waves to start the day on SE swell at 4s.
Best window·Thursday 5PM–8PM·3-4ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Old Orchard 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: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Fair - Good. 0-1ft waves to start the day on SSE swell at 4s. Swell builds, getting up to 3-4ft by PM.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 6s with light winds out of the W. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the S and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 7s with 10mph from the ESE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair - Good. Solid day on tap with 2-3ft waves on ENE swell at 7s and 11mph N winds.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor - fair with light NW winds.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Old Orchard Beach turns Good.
Check Old Orchard Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Old Orchard Beach is 2-3+ft with a 4.6s swell period. Wind is SSE at 5mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Old Orchard Beach is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.2ft SE wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.2ft 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 Old Orchard Beach is Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 4ft waves, a 5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Old Orchard Beach works best with a ESE 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 Old Orchard 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.
Old Orchard Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Old Orchard 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 Old Orchard Beach include crowds in summer, cold water, rip currents, pier pilings, strong nor'easter currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. 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).
