Popham Beach kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot

United States · Maine

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 4 m 43.74 | -69.8

Overview

Popham Beach is a spectacular spot at the mouth of the Kennebec River on Maine's coast. This state beach offers a large expanse of sand with southeast exposure to the Atlantic Ocean. River currents and tides create unique and dynamic conditions. The natural setting is remarkable with dunes and offshore islands.

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Spot forecast for Popham Beach

Sunrise 06:59 · Sunset 17:47

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 2.1 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24 Now00:541.1 m07:083 m13:091.3 m19:183.2 m01:451.1 m07:583.1 m14:041.2 m20:113.2 m02:311 m08:433.2 m14:521 m20:593.3 m03:130.9 m09:233.4 m15:360.9 m21:443.4 m03:520.8 m10:023.5 m16:180.7 m22:283.5 m
  • Tuesday 20 October Low tide · 1.1 m High tide · 3 m Low tide · 1.3 m High tide · 3.2 m
  • Wednesday 21 October Low tide · 1.1 m High tide · 3.1 m Low tide · 1.2 m High tide · 3.2 m
  • Thursday 22 October Low tide · 1 m High tide · 3.2 m Low tide · 1 m High tide · 3.3 m
  • Friday 23 October Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 3.4 m Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 3.4 m
  • Saturday 24 October Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 3.5 m Low tide · 0.7 m High tide · 3.5 m

Popham Beach: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

167h

in May · 22 rideable days

The season runs from March to September, peaking in May: 18 rideable days a month and 167 hours of usable wind, at 18 °C. The low point is January, at 9 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 9 rideable days9 d J February: 11 rideable days F March: 16 rideable days M April: 19.5 rideable days A May: 22 rideable days22 d M June: 15 rideable days J July: 17 rideable days J August: 18 rideable days A September: 19 rideable days S October: 14 rideable days O November: 9.5 rideable days N December: 9.5 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 9 rideable days9 d J February: 11 rideable days F March: 16 rideable days M April: 19.5 rideable days A May: 22 rideable days22 d M June: 15 rideable days J July: 17 rideable days J August: 18 rideable days A September: 19 rideable days S October: 14 rideable days O November: 9.5 rideable days N December: 9.5 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 87%13-20 knots · 12%21-30 knots · 2%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 87% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at -1 °C. The wettest month is March, with 132 mm.

Monthly averages: Popham Beach
Monthly averages — Popham Beach — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 9.0 57 h -1 °C 88 mm
February 11.0 75 h 1 °C 55 mm
March 16.0 131 h 6 °C 132 mm
April 19.5 154 h 11 °C 78 mm
May 22.0 167 h 16 °C 61 mm
June 15.0 110 h 22 °C 38 mm
July 17.0 129 h 25 °C 32 mm
August 18.0 92 h 23 °C 40 mm
September 19.0 119 h 21 °C 29 mm
October 14.0 103 h 15 °C 32 mm
November 9.5 61 h 9 °C 46 mm
December 9.5 50 h 1 °C 93 mm

Photo gallery of Popham Beach

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Technical details of Popham Beach spot

N: Rideable NNE: Rideable NE: Rideable ENE: Rideable E: Rideable ESE: Rideable SE: Rideable SSE: Rideable S: Rideable SSW: Rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Not rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Not rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

Ocean conditions influenced by the Kennebec River mouth. Strong currents created by the meeting of river and tidal waters. Sandy bottom. Very cold water year-round — full wetsuit essential (5/4mm in winter, 4/3mm in summer). Among the most significant tides on Maine's coast.

Hazards

Very strong currents at the Kennebec mouth — dangerous at mid-tide. Frequent rip currents. Very significant tide radically changing the landscape. Very cold water — hypothermia risk. Shifting sandbars. Do not ride alone at this exposed spot.

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Brunswick Executive Airport20 kmsource aviationweather.gov

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