Maine
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.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Expect 3-4ft waves early on SSE swell at 8s.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 8s with light winds out of the NE. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 9mph SSW winds.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
7s period — unlock the full 16-day forecast to track it
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
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 4-5ft with a 10s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph 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 4-5ft, produced by a 3.6ft SE primary swell at 10s, a 2.2ft SSE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 6.6s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
