Swimming at Popham Beach today
Phippsburg, Maine
Updated 4:00 AM EDT
What decides a swimming score
Before you swim
Surf is running 4.9 ft today, which makes shorebreak and currents stronger than usual.
At 57°F the water is cold enough that unprotected swimmers risk cold-water shock.
Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower, and check the National Weather Service surf-zone forecast for the official rip-current outlook — we report conditions, we don't forecast rip currents.
Popham Beach is also scored for
About Popham Beach
Popham Beach sits on the Maine coast, where the water runs from about 39°F in February to 66°F in August.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in August, the warmest month, it sits around 66°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Today it is 57°F. That is right on the October average of 57°F for this beach.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Fort Popham, Hunniwell Point about 2.2 km away on the open coast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Popham Beach good for swimming today?
Poor for swimming — we score it 40 out of 100 today. The limiting factor is surf calmness at 4.9 ft.
What makes a good swimming day?
We weight water temperature (40%), surf calmness (25%), uv exposure (15%) and combine them into one score. Conditions we cannot read are left out rather than guessed.
When is the best time of year to swim at Popham Beach?
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in August, the warmest month, it sits around 66°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.