
Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, S swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Higgins Beach in the next 16 days are 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
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 cookin’ for Higgins Beach over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it's a tough stretch ahead.
Looking at the whole 16-day window, we're in for a proper flat spell. The surf is gonna be missing in action for the first several days. There's just zero energy. The first time we see anything worthwhile is on Sunday the 19th, so we're looking at a 3-day gap of nothing from Thursday the 16th through Saturday the 18th. Even then, it’s not much to write home about.
Thursday the 16th? Forget it. We've got a tiny 0.3ft swell out of the SE with weak energy (15), and cross-off winds. The water temp is 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Just a day for a beach walk, not a paddle.
Friday the 16th is more of the same – that same tiny 0.3ft SE swell, but with light offshore winds from the WNW. Clean as a whistle, but there’s nothing to ride. Clean nothing is still nothing.
Saturday the 18th brings light onshore winds and the same flatness. Not a single decent wave in the mix.
Alright, Sunday the 19th is where things change, but not for the better. The morning shows a bump up to 5ft from the SSE, with moderate wave energy (173). The period is only 7 seconds though – that's short-period, junky windswell. Combined with a cross-offshore wind, it's gonna be messy. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a 3ft swell and offshore NW wind at 16 mph, creating clean conditions, but the energy drops to 73. It's surfable, but it's ordinary. This is the best we've got, and it's really not saying much.
Monday the 20th dawns with an onshore flow from the SSE. The morning is tiny and onshore, and the afternoon is a 3ft mess with a 4-second period and cross-onshore winds. Absolute chop.
Tuesday the 21st is a write-off. The morning is a weak 3ft from the south with cross-shore winds. The afternoon jumps to 7ft from the SSE with strong energy (310) – that's a big number – but the wind is a strong cross-onshore at 12 mph, making it a choppy, blown-out mess. That size (7ft) is pushing it for beginners anyway, and with those winds, it's only for the hardcore or kite surfers. This is a classic case where the beach-break setup with strong onshore wind looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Wednesday the 22nd morning offers a tiny glimmer: a 3ft SSE swell with glassy conditions – total flat calm. But it’s too small. The afternoon brings a touch more size (3ft) and moderate energy (172), but the wind goes cross-onshore and chops it up.
From there, we slide back into the doldrums. Thursday the 23rd through to the end of the month sees nothing but tiny, weak swells (2ft to 3ft) from the SE, almost always with cross-onshore or onshore winds. The combined energy stays weak (mostly below 100), and the period hovers around a pathetic 7 seconds. The water temp anomaly doesn't change. It's a long, frustrating flat run.
The one final glimmer is on Friday the 31st of July. The morning shows a 4ft SE swell with moderate energy (112) and a nice cross-offshore wind from the west. The afternoon is even better: 4ft, same energy, but with a solid offshore WNW wind at 16 mph. These are the cleanest, most surfable conditions of the entire 16-day forecast. But it's a month away, so take it with a grain of salt. It’s promising, but less certain.
So, the standout? It's a sorry tale. The only real window is Higgins Beach on the afternoon of Sunday the 19th of July for a clean, small wave, or the far-off promise of Friday the 31st of July with that offshore wind. Don't hold your breath on the rest. The swell window is just not firing for us. For now, keep the wax in the wrapper and watch the horizon. Forecasts can change, but this stretch looks legitimately quiet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 15 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 3 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 4 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 278 | 163 | 60 | 45 | 54 | 20 | 114 | 51 | 310 | 165 | 41 | 164 | 130 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | off | off | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:22PM2.99m | 1:34AM3.34m | 2:14PM3.01m | 2:28AM3.20m | 3:06PM2.99m | 3:22AM3.03m | 3:57PM2.94m | 4:17AM2.83m | 4:48PM2.88m | 5:14AM2.65m | 5:41PM2.80m | 6:13AM2.49m | 6:35PM2.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:18PM-0.06m | 7:57AM-0.34m | 8:14PM-0.03m | 8:47AM-0.22m | 9:09PM0.03m | 9:38AM-0.07m | 10:06PM0.12m | 10:28AM0.10m | 11:04PM0.21m | 11:20AM0.28m | 00:03AM0.29m | 12:14PM0.43m | 1:03AM0.34m | ||||||||
5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SW 3 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SE 12 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | — | SE 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 163 | 60 | 45 | 54 | 6 | 17 | 5 | — | 5 | 41 | 164 | 130 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | E 7 | SE 12 | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — |
3 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | — | S 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | — | — |
9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | NW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 7 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | — | SSE 4 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — | S 3 | — |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 278 | 3 | 8 | 1 | — | 20 | 114 | 51 | 310 | 165 | — | 8 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 848 | 1990 | 439 | 439 | 439 | 848 | 447 | 628 | 2642 | 42 | 42 | 166 | 182 | 276 | 76 | 276 | 276 | 42 | 237 | 256 | 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.










