Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SE swell with 132 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m 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 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (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 have a look at what's on the cards for Higgins Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a pretty flat and quiet stretch ahead. The first real chance of anything worthwhile doesn't show up until Thursday, 20th August. Before that, Tuesday and Wednesday are a total write-off with tiny, onshore slop. We're looking at a three-day gap of nothing but poor conditions from the start of the forecast.
So, Thursday morning, 20th August, we get a tiny pulse. The swell is a meagre 3ft from the SE with a period of just 7 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 65. The wind is light from the W, which is a cross-offshore breeze, so the waves will be clean. It's surfable, but it's very ordinary. That seabreeze is due to swing onshore in the afternoon, cleaning it up again.
Friday morning, 21st August, is the single best window in the whole run. The swell is still small at 2ft from the ESE, but the wind is glassy – dead calm from the ENE at 3 mph. For a small beach break, that's everything. The combined energy is only 56 (moderate), so expect weak, small waves, but they'll be perfectly clean. For a beginner looking for a safe, gentle paddle, this is your moment. The water temp is 65°F, which is about average for the time of year with a 0.7°F anomaly – nothing weird going on there.
After that, it's a long, slow grind. From Saturday, 22nd August, right through to Sunday, 30th, it's a mix of tiny swell and onshore winds. The wind is mostly from the S, SSE, or NE, blowing onshore or cross-shore, making everything choppy and messy. There's a window on Monday, 24th August, morning with a clean cross-offshore, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft from the SE. Not worth the drive.
We get a bit of a pulse on Saturday, 29th August. The morning is glassy with a 3ft SSE swell and a combined energy of 121 (moderate). The wind is calm. That's a solid window for a clean, small-wave session. The afternoon gets cross-on again, but morning could be a little gem.
The very end of the run, on Wednesday, 2nd September, has a morning of glassy conditions with a 3ft SE swell. The combined energy is 135 (moderate), but that period is a short 6 seconds. It'll be clean but weak and a bit gutless. The afternoon shows a 2ft swell with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 168 (moderate), but the wind is directly onshore, ruining it for surfing.
Look, for this spot, a blank run like this is pretty normal. The setup is more interesting for a kite session than a paddle session on those windy afternoons. The best on offer is the glassy, clean Friday morning, 21st August, for a tiny wave. The 29th August morning is a secondary stand-out if you're desperate. Stay patient, the forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 5 | ESE 7 | SE 12 | SE 7 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 88 | 39 | 45 | 58 | 65 | 51 | 45 | 44 | 32 | 31 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 30 | 9 | 21 | 35 | 43 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 9:26AM2.33m | 9:31PM2.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:15PM0.57m | 4:00AM0.28m | |||||||
— | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 6 |
40 | 88 | 39 | 45 | 58 | 65 | 51 | 45 | 44 | 32 | 31 | 24 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 30 | 9 | 21 | 35 | 43 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | — | — | E 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
6 | — | 28 | 13 | 11 | — | — | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | E 15 | S 15 | S 15 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 12 | — | SE 11 |
2 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 21 | — | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | N 3 | — | S 2 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 254 | 42 | 84 | 79 | 42 | 42 | 178 | 42 | 42 | 2543 | 42 | 847 | 949 | 400 | 1584 | 949 | 264 | 84 | 42 | 42 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maine | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











