Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, SE swell with 187 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with SSE 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-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 Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Higgins Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s talk about your local surf. Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak run. We’re staring down the barrel of the next 16 days and there’s just nothing to get excited about. The whole stretch is filled with poor surf conditions, and I can’t in good conscience give you a standout session. It’s one of those patches where the forecasts can change, and it usually doesn’t stay this flat for long, but right now, the only option is patience.
Things kick off on the 16th of August with a tiny, wind-affected dribble, and it doesn’t get much better from there. We see a brief spike in energy on the 18th, with a combined swell energy of (159) hitting on the Tuesday afternoon, but even then, the wave comment is “poor surf conditions”. The swell is small, just `4ft` from the SE, but the period is a weak `8 seconds`. You can see the potential is gutless.
Through the middle of the week and the weekend, we’re dealing with tiny swell, often under `3ft`, and it’s cross-on or onshore wind almost every day. The 24th of August does offer a moment of something clean, with glassy conditions on Monday afternoon, but the swell is a pathetic `1ft`. That’s not a wave, that’s a ripple. The 25th also starts glassy but then turns into a choppy mess by the afternoon.
We see one more pulse around the 25th and 27th where the combined energy climbs back over 100, like `155` and `162`, but the wind is junk and the wave quality is rated as poor. The swell direction swings ESE and SE, but the periods are either short (around `6 seconds`) or long (`12 seconds`). That longer period on the 27th might sound good, but with the wind and the tiny size, it’s a write-off.
The very end of the month, the 29th, 30th, and 31st, offer a few window lickers. We get some glassy or light wind mornings, but the swell is still struggling to get past `3ft`. It’s surfable, but only just, and very ordinary. Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the 31st might be your best bet with a clean `3ft` from the SSE and glassy early conditions, but it’s not a recommendation, it’s a last resort.
So there you have it. A long, dry spell. Keep the board in the bag and watch the forecast for a better window.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 17°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed night, min 16°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 121 | 65 | 53 | 47 | 58 | 159 | 131 | 69 | 55 | 67 | 25 | 54 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 22 | 21 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:32PM3.02m | 2:55AM2.91m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:42PM-0.02m | 9:02AM0.05m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 47 | 58 | 159 | 131 | 69 | 55 | 67 | 25 | 54 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 22 | 21 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | — | — | — | SE 9 | S 13 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 8 | — | ESE 9 | NE 3 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 |
3 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 14 | 36 | — | 17 | — | 8 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | E 8 | SE 15 | — | SE 14 | SE 13 | — | SE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | 8 | 7 | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NE 3 | SE 2 | — | — | SSE 2 | S 3 |
8 | 121 | 65 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2936 | 76 | 409 | 264 | 42 | 238 | 254 | 42 | 79 | 162 | 42 | 182 | 84 | 180 | 42 | 488 | 42 | 594 | 411 | 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.











