
Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 344 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period. 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 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
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 the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is gonna be a real struggle. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions with hardly any rideable surf. The first actual chance of something worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Thursday morning, July 23rd, at Higgins Beach, and even then it’s just barely surfable. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no shock there.
From now until the 23rd, it’s mostly small, weak, and messy. The wind is a problem, with a lot of onshore and cross-onshore slop. The energy is low, with readings between 23 and 61 (weak energy), making it feel like a washing machine. The swell is tiny, period is short, and the conditions are just poor. You’d be better off leaving the board in the car.
Thursday 23rd July – There’s a little window. The morning is looking like the best bet for the whole week. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the SSE, with a period of 8 seconds, and some light cross-offshore wind from the west. The water cleans up, and the combined energy pushes up to 188 (moderate energy). It’s not epic, but it’s surfable. The afternoon gets a bit messy as the wind swings around.
Friday 24th July morning – This is another one to set an alarm for. The wind goes glassy, which is a treat. The swell is 3ft from the SE, period of 7 seconds. The energy is a bit lower at 91 (weak energy), but a glassy morning on a consistent break like Higgins Beach is worth the dawn patrol. The crowds here are often, so expect company.
Wednesday 30th July morning – We’ve got another glassy morning, but the swell is tiny at 1ft from the SSE. The energy is only 41 (weak energy). It’s clean, but it’s a flat day. Not worth getting wet for.
Monday 3rd August morning – The long-range look is a bit more promising. We’ve got a glassy start with a 2ft swell from the east, period of 10 seconds. The energy climbs to 135 (moderate energy). The wind is glassy and the period is a bit longer, which suggests better shape. This is a promising one, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.
The standout? Honestly, there’s no big swell to get excited about. The Thursday 23rd July morning is the best of a pretty average bunch. The Friday 24th July morning with the glassy conditions is a close second. The Monday 3rd August morning is a long-range promise of cleaner, longer-period waves, but it’s a wait-and-see.
Stay patient. The ocean’s just taking a nap.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed night, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 3 | S 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | 13 | 8 | 54 | 21 | 56 | 230 | 136 | 287 | 232 | 188 | 135 | 119 | 91 | 62 | 65 | 65 | 54 | 49 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:17AM2.83m | 4:48PM2.88m | 5:14AM2.65m | 5:41PM2.80m | 6:13AM2.49m | 6:35PM2.74m | 7:14AM2.38m | 7:30PM2.69m | 8:14AM2.33m | 8:24PM2.69m | 9:10AM2.32m | 9:16PM2.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:06PM0.12m | 10:28AM0.10m | 11:04PM0.21m | 11:20AM0.28m | 00:03AM0.29m | 12:14PM0.43m | 1:03AM0.34m | 1:10PM0.54m | 2:03AM0.35m | 2:06PM0.59m | 2:59AM0.33m | 2:59PM0.60m | 3:49AM0.29m | ||||||
— | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | |
8:16 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
11 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 230 | 80 | 287 | 232 | 188 | 135 | 119 | 91 | 62 | 65 | 65 | 54 | 49 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | ESE 6 | SE 12 | S 12 | SE 12 | — | SE 11 | — | E 8 | — | W 3 | — | S 8 | — | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — |
7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | — | 5 | — | 5 | — | 1 | — | 50 | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 6 | 6 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | — | SSE 3 | S 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | — | SE 6 | — | W 2 | — | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | S 4 |
1 | — | 8 | 54 | 21 | 56 | — | 136 | — | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 254 | 260 | 989 | 42 | 1335 | 1335 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 42 | 42 | 32 | 43 | 276 | 42 | 264 | 1128 | 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.










