Maine
2-3ft waves to start the day on SSE swell at 4s.
2-3ft waves to start the day on SSE swell at 4s.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Scarborough 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: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Fair. Expect 1-2ft waves early on SSE swell at 4s.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3+ft waves on ESE swell at 6s with light winds out of the W. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 7s with moderate NNE wind around 9mph. The NE wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3+ft and fair early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and fair conditions.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft 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 today — get one free email when Scarborough Beach turns Good.
Check Scarborough Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Scarborough Beach in Maine is a classic New England beach break that picks up south to southeast swells funneling into Saco Bay, producing mellow, rolling waves well-suited for beginners and longboarders. The spot faces NNW, meaning it is sheltered from direct open-ocean hammering but catches refracted swell energy that wraps into the bay, keeping conditions manageable even on bigger swell days. Fall is prime time here when hurricane-season groundswells combine with offshore winds and thinning crowds to deliver some of the best surf Maine has to offer.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Scarborough Beach is 2-3ft with a 4.7s swell period. Wind is SSE at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Scarborough Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.4ft SSE 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 Scarborough Beach is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 6.4s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Scarborough Beach works best with a SE swell and NNW 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 Scarborough 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.
Scarborough Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Scarborough Beach in Maine is a classic New England beach break that picks up south to southeast swells funneling into Saco Bay, producing mellow, rolling waves well-suited for beginners and longboarders. The spot faces NNW, meaning it is sheltered from direct open-ocean hammering but catches refracted swell energy that wraps into the bay, keeping conditions manageable even on bigger swell days. Fall is prime time here when hurricane-season groundswells combine with offshore winds and thinning crowds to deliver some of the best surf Maine has to offer.
The prime season at Scarborough 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 Scarborough Beach include cold water, strong currents, rip currents, crowds in summer, hypothermia risk. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Scarborough 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).
