Maine
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Short Sands for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Short Sands, Maine. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 5s and glassy conditions. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the W. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the SSE.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–1ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and very poor conditions with 8mph NE winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Short Sands is a sheltered crescent beach tucked into York, Maine, offering mellow, forgiving waves that make it one of the most approachable surf spots along the Maine coast. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic through the Gulf of Maine, it picks up southeast and east swells that wrap into the bay, producing soft rolling waves ideal for learners and longboarders. The spot has a lively summer beach town atmosphere, but fall brings cleaner conditions, fewer crowds, and the pumping northeast swells that the Maine coastline is known for.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Short Sands is 1ft with a 7.1s swell period. Wind is W at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Short Sands is 1ft, produced by a 2ft SE primary swell at 7s, a 0.8ft WNW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Short Sands is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 10.15s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Short 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 Short 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.
Short Sands is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Short Sands is a sheltered crescent beach tucked into York, Maine, offering mellow, forgiving waves that make it one of the most approachable surf spots along the Maine coast. Facing northwest toward the open Atlantic through the Gulf of Maine, it picks up southeast and east swells that wrap into the bay, producing soft rolling waves ideal for learners and longboarders. The spot has a lively summer beach town atmosphere, but fall brings cleaner conditions, fewer crowds, and the pumping northeast swells that the Maine coastline is known for.
The prime season at Short 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 Short Sands include cold water, rip currents, rocky shoreline edges, seasonal crowds, lobster trap buoys. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Short 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
