Maine
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.
Sat, May 16: 6–7ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on SE swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSE swell at 7s with 8mph SW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 8s with calm winds. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with moderate WSW wind around 9mph and poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 9mph from the WSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
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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 5-7ft with a 10.1s 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 Scarborough Beach is 5-7ft, produced by a 4.3ft SE primary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft 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 Scarborough Beach is Sunday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
