Maine
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Drakes Island, Maine. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with light winds out of the SE.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 8s and light winds out of the WNW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 8s and light winds out of the NW.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 7s with gentle ENE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Expect 3-4ft waves early on ESE swell at 10s.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Drakes Island offers a sheltered beach break on Maine's southern coast, where consistent Atlantic swells wrap around the point and peel onto sandy banks. The westerly-facing shores here pick up autumn swells particularly well while remaining protected from northeast winter storms by the island's geography. This is a mellow, accessible wave with plenty of room to spread out, making it ideal for improving your skills away from heavier Maine breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Drakes Island is 2-3ft with a 7.05s swell period. Wind is SE at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Drakes Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.8ft SE primary swell at 6s, a 1.8ft ESE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ESE tertiary swell at 13s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Drakes Island is Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Drakes Island works best with a E swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Drakes Island. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Drakes Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Drakes Island offers a sheltered beach break on Maine's southern coast, where consistent Atlantic swells wrap around the point and peel onto sandy banks. The westerly-facing shores here pick up autumn swells particularly well while remaining protected from northeast winter storms by the island's geography. This is a mellow, accessible wave with plenty of room to spread out, making it ideal for improving your skills away from heavier Maine breaks.
The prime season at Drakes Island is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Drakes Island include cold water, seasonal crowds during fall swell season, rocky outcrops. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Drakes Island forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
