Higgins Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.56° N 70.28° W

Higgins Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Higgins Beach sea temperature is
18.6° C
0.7° 

Higgins Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Higgins Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SE swell with 135 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with SE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Higgins Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Higgins Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Higgins Beach in the next 16 days are 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 18th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 18th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 8PM (Tue 18th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Higgins Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you about the next couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a tough wait for anyone jonesing for a proper wave. The forecast is pretty bleak for a good long stretch, so if you’re desperate, get ready to be patient.

First thing you need to know: we’re looking at a real flat spell. From now until the end of the month, there’s just nothing doing. The swell is tiny and the winds are all over the shop, mostly onshore or cross, making a mess of what little bump there is. We are talking ankle-biters and knee-high slop, if you’re lucky. The water temp is sitting around 66°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest suit, but a good hood might be welcome on those cloudy mornings. It’s a long stretch of nothing, which is a bummer.

The first few days are just a write-off. Monday the 17th is small, crossed-up junk from the south. Tuesday through to Sunday the 23rd offers nothing but wind ripples and close-outs. There’s an occasional bit of clean surf, like Friday morning the 21st, but the swell is far too weak to make it worth the paddle. It’s a whole week of near-flat conditions. We are talking about a solid week or more of waiting before anything with any push at all shows up.

Now, let's talk about the one and only glimmer in this whole 16-day forecast. It’s over a week away, so take it with a grain of salt, but the morning of Friday the 28th is the only time we might get something close to a real wave. The energy jumps way up – the combined energy reading is 752, which is strong – and the swell is forecast to be a solid 7 ft. That’s a real pulse of energy compared to everything else we’ve seen. The direction is from the SE, which is right in the optimum zone for Higgins Beach (Portland) according to the models. The wind is a cross-offshore from the NNE, which should keep the face clean. Its holding period is only 7 seconds, so it will be a bit crumbly and disorganized, but it will be the only thing worth looking at. That said, at 7 ft, it’s pushing into expert territory. This is not a day for the beginners. The crowd factor here could be a problem too, as the lineup at Higgins is often busy, and you can bet everyone will be out there for this one.

After that, it drops again, unfortunately. The energy backs off and we’re back to small, choppy slop for the rest of the weekend and into September. Friday the 28th is the standout, and it’s really the only game in town. It’s a long way out, so don’t book your flights, but it’s the one to keep an eye on. For everything else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
S
5
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.7
SSE
9
1
SE
8
0.8
SE
7
0.8
SE
7
0.8
SE
7
0.7
SE
8
0.6
SE
7
0.6
SE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
6
0.8
ESE
6
0.7
ESE
6
0.4
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
42
12
12
65
116
67
55
52
55
44
45
44
44
41
39
22
20
42
30
14
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
5
E
10
ENE
10
E
5
WSW
10
SSW
15
SSW
5
N
10
NE
10
SE
5
NNW
15
N
10
NE
10
NNW
10
ENE
15
SSE
5
NNW
10
ENE
10
ENE
10
SW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
3:18PM2.94m
3:45AM2.72m
4:05PM2.84m
4:38AM2.55m
4:55PM2.73m
5:34AM2.39m
5:49PM2.65m
6:34AM2.29m
6:46PM2.59m
7:36AM2.24m
7:45PM2.59m
8:34AM2.26m
8:41PM2.64m
Low Tide
9:33PM0.09m
9:48AM0.23m
10:26PM0.21m
10:37AM0.40m
11:22PM0.32m
11:30AM0.54m
00:22AM0.40m
12:27PM0.64m
1:23AM0.44m
1:27PM0.67m
2:22AM0.42m
2:24PM0.64m
3:15AM0.36m
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
heavy rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:48
5:48
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:42
7:39
7:38
7:37
7:35
7:34
7:31
 mm
1
7
1
2
12
Temp °C
19
19
19
20
19
23
24
24
19
18
18
18
16
16
17
19
17
16
16
16
Feels °C
18
20
20
20
20
22
23
24
19
19
19
17
14
15
15
16
16
14
14
17
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Higgins Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Higgins Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Higgins Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Higgins Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Higgins Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Higgins Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Higgins Beach is 9 km (6 miles) from South Portland Gardens. If you plan a vacation in Maine, look for hotels and other accommodation in South Portland Gardens. South Portland Gardens has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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