Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SE swell with 100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Higgins Beach in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5PM. 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 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Higgins Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and settle in, because the outlook for Higgins Beach is a bit of a tough one to write. I’m not gonna lie to you, the next couple of weeks look pretty flat and messy for the most part. We’ve got a classic summer lull on our hands.
The water temperature is sitting right around 64°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there.
For the first week, from Sunday the 23rd right through to the end of August, it’s a write-off. We’re looking at tiny, weak swell, mostly under 3 feet, with a combined wave energy that rarely breaks triple digits (peaking at a measly 119 on Monday afternoon). The wind is nearly always onshore or cross-onshore, chopping up whatever little bump there is. It’s just poor surf conditions, day after day. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Saturday the 29th where the wind goes cross-offshore from the NNE, but the swell is only 2 feet, so it’s a lake. Not worth paddling out for.
Then we hit a bit of a gap. The first week of September doesn’t offer much more. The first real standout, and I use that term loosely, pops up on Friday the 4th of September. The morning shows a long-period groundswell from the SE, with a period of 18 seconds and a solid combined energy reading of 804. That’s a lot of energy for a small wave. The swell height is only 2 feet, but that long period (over 15 seconds!) means it’ll have some push and shape. The wind is light cross-onshore from the east, which is passable. This is a tricky one though – a long-period swell like that can be a bit too lined up and fast for a beach break, so it might be better on a reef or point, but we don’t have that here. The forecast calls it "marginal", so don’t expect perfection, but it's the only window with any real potential. The afternoon on the same day sees the swell bump to 3 feet, period drops to 13 seconds, and the wind goes straight onshore, so the morning is the pick.
So, to be brutally honest, there are no proper standouts in this 16-day window. The whole period is a struggle. The only day that might tempt a dedicated surfer out is that Friday morning, September 4th, for the novelty of the long-period groundswell, but it’s far from a sure thing. Keep your expectations on the floor.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 15 | 20 | 67 | 100 | 63 | 39 | 60 | 23 | 36 | 62 | 86 | 49 | 46 | 62 | 57 | 43 | 77 | 32 | 31 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross-on | on | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:34AM2.26m | 8:41PM2.64m | 9:26AM2.33m | 9:31PM2.71m | 10:11AM2.42m | 10:15PM2.80m | 10:50AM2.52m | 10:55PM2.87m | 11:26AM2.63m | 11:32PM2.93m | 11:59AM2.74m | 00:09AM2.96m | 12:32PM2.84m | 00:46AM2.96m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:24PM0.64m | 3:15AM0.36m | 3:15PM0.57m | 4:00AM0.28m | 4:00PM0.48m | 4:40AM0.20m | 4:41PM0.37m | 5:15AM0.12m | 5:19PM0.27m | 5:48AM0.06m | 5:56PM0.16m | 6:21AM0.02m | 6:34PM0.08m | ||||||||
5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | |
— | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
25 | 15 | 20 | 67 | 19 | 63 | 39 | 18 | 23 | 36 | 62 | 86 | 49 | 46 | 62 | 57 | 43 | 77 | 32 | 31 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | — | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 5 | — | SSE 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | S 7 | SSE 5 | — | S 6 |
15 | 5 | 14 | 13 | — | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 6 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 8 | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 12 | SE 8 | S 12 | — | E 6 | — | — | E 14 | E 13 | — | — | S 7 | — | — | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — |
3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 4 | — | SE 7 | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | SSE 3 | S 5 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | S 3 | NNE 3 |
— | — | 6 | — | 100 | — | — | 60 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 40 | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 989 | 178 | 42 | 76 | 92 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 92 | 42 | 92 | 1335 | 76 | 264 | 260 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 92 |
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.











