Maine
1-2ft waves to start the day on SSE swell at 4s.
1-2ft waves to start the day on SSE swell at 4s.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Popham 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, 9s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on SSE swell at 5s.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 6s and light W winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 12mph ESE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 20mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Wind drops off and the surface cleans up — poor - fair by afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 9s with 8mph NNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the SW and dropping conditions to very poor.
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 Popham Beach turns Good.
Check Popham Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Popham Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine, offering mellow beach break waves that are welcoming to beginners and longboarders. Facing nearly due north toward the open waters of the Gulf of Maine, this spot picks up south swells that wrap around the shoreline, producing fun and forgiving rollers. The remote setting within Popham Beach State Park, combined with Maine's rugged natural beauty, makes this one of the more scenic and uncrowded surf destinations in New England.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Popham Beach is 1-2ft with a 4.3s swell period. Wind is SSE at 6mph. 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 Popham Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.9ft SSE wind swell swell at 4s, 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 Popham Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Popham Beach works best with a S swell and N 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 Popham 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.
Popham Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Popham Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine, offering mellow beach break waves that are welcoming to beginners and longboarders. Facing nearly due north toward the open waters of the Gulf of Maine, this spot picks up south swells that wrap around the shoreline, producing fun and forgiving rollers. The remote setting within Popham Beach State Park, combined with Maine's rugged natural beauty, makes this one of the more scenic and uncrowded surf destinations in New England.
The prime season at Popham 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 Popham Beach include cold water, strong currents, river mouth current, rip currents, rocks near jetty, hypothermia risk. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Popham 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).
