
Surf Forecasts:
Higgins Beach surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, SSE swell with 217 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period. 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 1.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 29) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Higgins Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest with you, this is a tough one. We’ve got a long stretch of mostly small, messy conditions, but there are a couple of very brief windows where it might just be worth wetting the wetsuit.
First up, the overall pattern. The combined swell energy is pretty weak for most of the period, sitting in the low to moderate range (mostly between 20 and 172). The swell direction is all over the place but mostly from the SE, which isn’t ideal for Higgins Beach (exposed to SE) as it throws a lot of onshore and cross-onshore wind at us. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real chance to paddle out comes on Thursday July 23rd. The morning session is your best bet. Swell is a tiny 3 ft from the SSE, but the magic is in the wind. It’s glassy with a WSW breeze at just 3 mph. The waves are surfable, but very ordinary. The energy is moderate (114) and the period is short (8 seconds), so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but clean. The afternoon goes south quick with a cross-on 12 mph SSE wind, chopping it up. Crowds are likely here, so get there early.
Friday July 24th through Wednesday July 30th is a rough patch. Swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is constantly onshore or cross-onshore. The energy drops right off (down to 38 in some spots). It’s a gap of about 6 days with nothing worth recommending. You’d be fighting a losing battle.
Then on Thursday July 30th morning, we get a glimmer. The wind goes dead calm, glassy, but the swell is only 2 ft from the SSE. The energy is weak (46) and the period is short (8 seconds). It’s clean, but there’s almost no push. It’s a real knee-bumper.
The next standout is Friday July 31st morning. Another glassy start with a slight SSW air at 3 mph. The swell is still small at 2 ft from the SSE, but the period stretches to 9 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. The energy is up slightly (81) – still weak, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen in days. Again, it’s surfable but very ordinary. Crowds are likely, so keep an eye out.
After that, it’s back to the grind. From Saturday August 1st through to the end of the forecast period, we’re looking at flat to tiny, choppy conditions. The energy is almost non-existent, dipping as low as 20 by the 7th. There’s really nothing to get excited about.
To be honest, the best on offer is the Thursday July 23rd morning for the glassy conditions, and Friday July 31st morning for the slightly longer period and clean surface. Neither is a classic, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, those are the windows.
Higgins Beach is a consistent spot, but this run is a real test of patience. It’s a beach break, so the long period swells we get (like the 9-second one on the 31st) might be a bit better at a point or reef, but for here, it’s just small and clean.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 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) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
136 | 112 | 79 | 62 | 47 | 29 | 51 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 52 | 55 | 44 | 28 | 39 | 60 | 47 | 71 | 66 | 86 | 74 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | off | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:30PM2.69m | 8:14AM2.33m | 8:24PM2.69m | 9:10AM2.32m | 9:16PM2.72m | 10:01AM2.36m | 10:03PM2.77m | 10:45AM2.40m | 10:46PM2.83m | 11:25AM2.47m | 11:25PM2.88m | 12:02PM2.53m | 00:01AM2.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:10PM0.54m | 2:03AM0.35m | 2:06PM0.59m | 2:59AM0.33m | 2:59PM0.60m | 3:49AM0.29m | 3:47PM0.56m | 4:34AM0.23m | 4:31PM0.51m | 5:14AM0.18m | 5:11PM0.45m | 5:50AM0.13m | 5:48PM0.39m | ||||||||
5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | |
— | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 7 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | E 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | E 6 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
136 | 112 | 79 | 62 | 47 | 29 | 51 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 52 | 55 | 44 | 26 | 39 | 60 | 47 | 71 | 66 | 86 | 74 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | SSE 11 | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | SE 8 | E 7 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 5 | SE 8 | E 6 | ENE 6 |
1 | 24 | 33 | 20 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 28 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 27 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — | E 8 | — | E 8 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 3 | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | SSE 2 | — | — | SSE 2 | — | SSE 2 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | — | — | NE 4 | N 3 | — | SSW 2 |
— | 3 | — | — | 2 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 23 | — | — | 16 | 3 | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 257 | 32 | 254 | 989 | 42 | 488 | 1036 | 92 | 264 | 1985 | 42 | 470 | 108 | 42 | 264 | 883 | 264 | 1036 | 120 | 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.










