Maine
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.
Sun, May 10: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light winds out of the SSE.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on SE swell at 8s with moderate WNW wind around 7mph. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on ESE swell at 8s with light winds out of the NW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 7s with gentle ENE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 4-5ft on ESE swell at 10s with 14mph out of the SSE. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
7s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 3-4ft 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 Short Sands is 3-4ft, 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 Short Sands is Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 4ft waves, a 8.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
