Best Old Orchard Beach surf window today: tide and conditions
Old Orchard Beach's best surf window today is 11:30 PM-12:30 AM, with rising tide, 15 mph wind, and 3.9 ft swell; tide in range, cross-shore winds, good swell angle. Old Orchard Beach is the top pick at 4.1 ft.
Live surf planning
Plan around the live conditions
Best time to surf Old Orchard Beach this week
September rates 72/100 for Old Orchard Beach. 1 of 1 local beaches are in peak season; November is the historical peak if this week's surf report looks marginal.
Match the surf report
Now: falling tide, 15 mph wind, and 4.8 ft swell. Confirm them in the live surf report first.
Seasonal pattern in September
September
1 of 1 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 3-8 ft waves and 62°F water. Peak month: November.
Surf Score by Month
Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.
Monthly Breakdown
January
Massive nor'easters, near-freezing water
February
Coldest water of year, serious storms
March
Late winter storms, water starts to rise
April
Spring transitions, lobster season opens
May
Small swells, long days
June
Summer starts, mostly small
July
Tourist season, flat surf
August
Warmest water, tropical teasers
September
PeakHurricane swells, still tolerable temps
October
PeakFall nor'easters, empty Scarborough
November
PeakBig storms, almost no one out
December
Winter storms, truly hardcore only
Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions
Dawn Patrol
- Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
- Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
- Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (34°F in winter)
- Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Old Orchard Beach
Afternoon Sessions
- Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
- Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
- Water warms through the day — upper end (65°F in summer)
- Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down
