Maine
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Popham Beach for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the S and dropping conditions to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with moderate SW wind around 10mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle W breeze.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the W.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with gentle SW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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 1ft with a 9.1s swell period. Wind is SSW at 8mph and 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 Popham Beach is 1ft, produced by a 1.2ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft S wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Tuesday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 2ft waves, a 9.05s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
