Swell Intel

Short Sands Surf Forecast, Maine

Maine

Long Sands1-2ftHarbor Beach1-2+ftOgunquit River1-2ft
Short Sands surf spot

Current Conditions

Fair
Wave Height
2-3ft
waist to chest high
Swell Period
4.25s
Wind
6mph
NE / Gusts 13mph
Conditions
Fair
Active Swells
Primary
2.7ft @ 6sSSE
Wind Swell
2.8ft @ 4sENE

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 312-3ft
Fair

Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on SSE swell at 6s with 13mph out of the N.

6am9am12pm3pm
6s SSE|13mph N
Wed, Apr 13-4ft
Fair

Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 8s with light S winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s SSE|4-9mph S
Thu, Apr 23-4ft
Poor - Fair

A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 10mph NE winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s SSE|10-11mph ENE
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Short Sands Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SE
Best Wind
NW
Season
Fall

Short Sands is a sheltered crescent beach tucked into York, Maine, offering mellow, forgiving waves that make it one of the most approachable surf spots along the Maine coast. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic through the Gulf of Maine, it picks up southeast and east swells that wrap into the bay, producing soft rolling waves ideal for learners and longboarders. The spot has a lively summer beach town atmosphere, but fall brings cleaner conditions, fewer crowds, and the pumping northeast swells that the Maine coastline is known for.

Cold waterRip currentsRocky shoreline edgesSeasonal crowdsLobster trap buoys

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Short Sands Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Short Sands?
The current wave height at Short Sands is 2-3ft with a 4.25s swell period. Wind is NE at 6mph. Conditions are rated Fair.
How accurate is the Short Sands surf forecast?
Our Short Sands 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Short Sands?
The current breaking wave height at Short Sands is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.7ft SSE primary swell at 6s, a 2.8ft ENE wind swell swell at 4s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Short Sands?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Short Sands is Wednesday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 7.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.