
Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSE swell with 165 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with S 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 (Jul 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Higgins Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this straight – the 16-day window for Higgins Beach is looking pretty flat and uninspiring, if I’m being honest. There’s a real gap of good surf here, especially for the first week and a half, with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The best of a bad bunch comes right at the very end, but we’ve got a long wait to get there.
Right now, starting Wednesday the 15th, we’ve got tiny little waves. Wednesday morning is a complete non-starter with 2ft south swell and a short 6-second period – combined energy is just 40, so there’s basically no push. Wind is offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, but the swell is too weak to care. Wednesday afternoon is even smaller, 1ft, with a bit more period at 9 seconds but still hopeless. The whole rest of the first week stays flat – Thursday the 16th through Saturday the 18th are all showing 0.3ft swell with no energy to speak of (combined energy in the teens). It’s basically a lake.
Into Sunday the 19th, we finally see a little lift, but it’s still poor. Morning gives us 2ft from the SSE with a short 5-second period, and the wind is light cross-shore from the ENE at 6 mph. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing special. The surf is just weak and messy. Monday the 20th is slightly bigger at 3ft to 4ft, but the period is still short (4-5 seconds), and the wind turns cross-onshore from the S and SSE, making it choppy. Not worth your time.
We finally get a taste of something on Tuesday the 21st. The afternoon shows 4ft from the south, with a 6-second period, combined energy of 199 – that’s moderate energy, so there’s some push. Wind is light from the north at 6 mph, giving a clean cross-offshore look. The guidance says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’d call it the only real window of the first week and a half. It’s small, but it’s the best you’ll get until much later.
After that, it’s back to tiny, poor surf from Wednesday the 22nd through to Sunday the 26th. On Sunday the 26th, we get another small bump – the afternoon shows 4ft southeast swell, 7-second period, combined energy of 99, so it’s on the edge of being surfable. Wind is light cross-offshore from the SW at 9 mph, keeping it clean. It’s nothing special, but it’s the second best day.
The real standout, if you can call it that, is Tuesday the 28th of July. The afternoon delivers 5ft from the SSE with a 7-second period, and the combined energy is 193 – that’s moderate energy, and the biggest swell of the whole run. The wind is moderate cross-onshore from the SSW at 12 mph, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but this is the biggest, most energetic swell we’ve got. For an exposed beach break like Higgins, this is your best chance. The wave direction (SSE) is about as close as we get to the optimum SE direction, so it’s aligned okay. It’s still not great, but it’s the best on offer.
Honestly, for most of the next 16 days, the setup here looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially with the onshore winds and small, weak swell. It’s a tough run for a consistent spot like this – just one of those periods where the ocean forgets to send us anything good. Keep an eye on the long-range, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Fri night, min 16°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tue 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
53 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 45 | 21 | 46 | 38 | 24 | 59 | 145 | 74 | 116 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:44PM3.44m | 12:29PM2.94m | 00:40AM3.42m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:14AM-0.41m | 6:23PM-0.06m | 7:06AM-0.40m | 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 | ||||||||
— | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | |
8:20 | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 21 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 13 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 6 | SSE 6 |
53 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 46 | 38 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 72 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 13 | SSE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 9 | E 6 |
13 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 17 | S 8 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | S 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 |
— | 11 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | — | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | — | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
2 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 45 | — | — | — | 24 | 59 | 145 | 74 | 116 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 260 | 186 | 254 | 306 | 848 | 439 | 447 | 2543 | 439 | 439 | 468 | 42 | 254 | 238 | 182 | 276 | 276 | 92 | 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.











