Maine
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Long Sands, 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. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with light SSE winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SE swell at 8s — gentle WNW breeze.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on ESE swell at 8s with light winds out of the NW.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle ENE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, strong SSE wind at 14mph, poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Long Sands is a wide, gently sloping sandy beach break in York, Maine, offering some of the most accessible surf in the state. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic fetch, it picks up Northeast and East swells generated by Gulf of Maine storm systems, producing mellow, rolling waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The beach's broad expanse and consistent sand bottom make it a welcoming entry point into Maine's cold-water surf scene, with fall delivering the best combo of swell energy and offshore winds.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Long Sands is 2-3ft with a 7.05s swell period. Wind is SSE at 8mph 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 Long Sands 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 Long Sands is Monday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Long Sands works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Long Sands. 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.
Long Sands is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Long Sands is a wide, gently sloping sandy beach break in York, Maine, offering some of the most accessible surf in the state. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic fetch, it picks up Northeast and East swells generated by Gulf of Maine storm systems, producing mellow, rolling waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The beach's broad expanse and consistent sand bottom make it a welcoming entry point into Maine's cold-water surf scene, with fall delivering the best combo of swell energy and offshore winds.
The prime season at Long Sands 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 Long Sands include cold water, rip currents, crowds in summer, strong currents during storms, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Long Sands 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.
