Maine
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Scarborough Beach for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the S. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 6s and light WSW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the WNW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light WSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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 1ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph and 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 1ft, produced by a 1.3ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft S 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
