Portsmith tides today
- Tide now 6.5 ft ↑ rising · high 11:27 am (8.4 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:50–6:40 pm average day · 6/10
- Beach day 3:00–6:00 pm Perfect beach day · 9/10
- Waves · water 2.0 ft · 82 °F slight · 5.6 s from the east-northeast
- Wind · air 4 mph · 81 °F from the ESE, gusts 13 · light drizzle
- Sun 5:41 am–6:21 pm 12 h 40 min of daylight
- Moon 88% · 9:44 pm waning gibbous · rises at 9:44 pm
- Best time to dive 10:30 am–12:40 pm great day · 10/10
Today in Portsmith there are high tides at 11:27 am (8.4 ft) and 10:43 pm (5.6 ft) and low tides at 4:18 am and 5:45 pm. Tide coefficient 62. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 11:27 am. The sun rises at 5:41 am and sets at 6:21 pm: 12 h 40 min of daylight. The moon is 88% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:44 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:16 am to 3:16 am and from 1:48 pm to 3:48 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 27 to 29. The sea is slight, with 2.0 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the east-southeast (4 mph). Light drizzle, 81 °F.
Fishing in Portsmith today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 5:45 pm
- Sunset at 6:21 pm, golden hour from 5:52 pm
- Steady pressure (30.03 inHg), almost no wind and some swell (2.1 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 62 (small tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:50 pm to 6:40 pm, combines the 5:45 pm low tide, sunset and some swell. Also good from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, with the 11:27 am high tide, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also good from 1:50 pm to 3:50 pm, with a major period, a light onshore breeze and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: barramundi, leopard coral grouper, bluefin trevally and mangrove red snapper. October is one of the months when these are seen most: giant trevally. What you can catch
Beach day in Portsmith
Is it a beach day?
6 good hours- Sunny
- Feels like 94 °F: hot
- Onshore breeze (7 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 2.1 ft waves
- UV 5 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 83 °F (very warm)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 2.1 ft
2.1 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 83 °F
Very warm: barely refreshing.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 13 · SPF 50
Max UV 13 (extreme): SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. Seek shade 10:00 am–3:00 pm (very high UV).
- Wind 7 mph
Onshore breeze (7 mph).
- Tide & sand 5:45 pm
Low tide at 4:18 am and 5:45 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 11:27 am and 10:43 pm.
The best window, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, brings sunshine, beach weather, little wind, a calm sea, water at 83 °F and low tide at 5:45 pm.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Portsmith
We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of Portsmith.
Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Portsmith
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Portsmith
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:18 am 1.9 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 11:27 am 8.4 ft · coef. 62
- ▼ Low tide 5:45 pm 4.5 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:43 pm 5.6 ft · coef. 55
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 2 h 38 min to high tide at 11:27 am.
Tide coefficient 62 for the 11:27 am high tide and 55 for the 10:43 pm high tide. Low coefficient. The water rises and falls 6.5 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on February 1 (11.0 ft) and the lowest, on July 14 (0.3 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above chart datum: the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), the zero of nautical charts in Europe. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (LAT)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 7 to 9 (coefficient 104, 8.0 ft range). The smallest, on October 16 (coefficient 20, 3.2 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Thu 29 | 5:41 am · 6:21 pm | Low tide 4:18 am · 1.9 ft | High tide 11:27 am · 8.4 ft | Low tide 5:45 pm · 4.5 ft | High tide 10:43 pm · 5.6 ft | Coef. 62 | 88% | Major periods 1:16 am · 1:48 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 5:40 am · 6:21 pm | Low tide 5:18 am · 2.5 ft | High tide 12:49 pm · 8.1 ft | Low tide 9:43 pm · 4.6 ft | — | Coef. 47 | 80% | Major periods 2:21 am · 2:53 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 5:40 am · 6:22 pm | High tide 12:15 am · 4.9 ft | Low tide 6:38 am · 3.1 ft | High tide 2:51 pm · 8.2 ft | Low tide 10:37 pm · 3.8 ft | Coef. 46 | 70% | Major periods 3:25 am · 3:56 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 5:39 am · 6:22 pm | High tide 3:30 am · 5.0 ft | Low tide 8:30 am · 3.3 ft | High tide 4:07 pm · 8.6 ft | Low tide 11:13 pm · 3.2 ft | Coef. 59 | 59% | Major periods 4:25 am · 4:54 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 5:39 am · 6:23 pm | High tide 4:41 am · 5.8 ft | Low tide 10:06 am · 3.1 ft | High tide 4:58 pm · 9.0 ft | Low tide 11:42 pm · 2.7 ft | Coef. 73 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:21 am · 5:47 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 5:38 am · 6:23 pm | High tide 5:28 am · 6.6 ft | Low tide 11:05 am · 2.8 ft | High tide 5:39 pm · 9.1 ft | — | Coef. 84 | 37% | Major periods 6:13 am · 6:37 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 5:38 am · 6:23 pm | Low tide 12:09 am · 2.3 ft | High tide 6:09 am · 7.2 ft | Low tide 11:52 am · 2.7 ft | High tide 6:15 pm · 9.1 ft | Coef. 90 | 27% | Major periods 7:00 am · 7:23 pm | Low |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (LAT). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Cairns station (TICON-4), 1.2 mi from Portsmith. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database). Source: Hart-Davis, M., Dettmering, D., Seitz, F. (2025), TICON-4: TIdal CONstants based on GESLA-4 sea-level records, SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/109129. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: see https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database#modifications-to-source-data
The sea at Portsmith
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.0 ft
- Significant2.0 ft
- Highest expectedHighest4.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 4.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 4.2 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces northeast and the wind blows along the shore: drift and current run parallel to the beach.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Friday 30: 2.8 ft with a period of 5 s, from the east (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water warms over the next few days: about 84.0 °F by Wednesday 4.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+2.9 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 8:48 am (local time).
Diving in Portsmith today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (11:27 am): little current from 11:00 am to 11:50 am
- 2.1 ft surface waves: easy entry and exit
- Light onshore wind (6 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the southeast, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 4:18 am (3:40–4:40 am), high tide 11:27 am (11:00–11:50 am), low tide 5:45 pm (5:20–6:30 pm) and high tide 10:43 pm (9:20–11:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 82.0–82.9 °F: a shorty or a rash guard.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:43 pm. Waning gibbous (88%), rising at 9:44 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 10:30 am to 12:40 pm, combines slack water at high tide, small waves, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 4:50 pm to 6:20 pm, with slack water at low tide, small waves, light wind and weak current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- MG Kailis Lobster 0.3 mi
- Tailored Spatial Solutions 0.6 mi
- Great Barrier Reef 0.8 mi
- Pro Dive Cairns 0.9 mi
- Divers Den 1.2 mi
- Mike Ball Dive Expeditions 1.3 mi
- Alwing Cairns 1.3 mi
- Marine Discoveries, Cairns 1.3 mi
- Osprey Reef 1.4 mi
- DiversWorld Spearfishing 1.4 mi
- Cairns Dive Centre 1.4 mi
- Scubadoo Cairns 1.5 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Weather in Portsmith
Now in Portsmith
- Low / high
- 73 / 87 °F
- Rain
- 0.02 in · 43%
- Clouds
- 93%
- Humidity
- 74%
- Dew pointDew point
- 72 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 5 · moderate
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 20
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising · now Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Rising now (+0.05 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.03 inHg. Rising pressure: anglers say fish bite less for a while. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Overcast | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Mainly clear | Clear sky | Mainly clear |
| Temperature | 74° | 73° | 74° | 81° | 86° | 86° | 79° | 75° |
| Wind (mph) | 3 SW | 4 SW | 3 SW | 4 E | 7 E | 7 E | 3 ESE | 3 SSW |
| Gusts | 6 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| Waves | 2.1 ft | 2.1 ft | 2.0 ft | 2.0 ft | 2.1 ft | 2.1 ft | 2.1 ft | 2.2 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 am 81° 4 E 2.0 ft
- 12:00 pm 86° 7 E 2.1 ft
- 3:00 pm 86° 7 E 2.1 ft
- 6:00 pm 79° 3 ESE 2.1 ft
- 9:00 pm 75° 3 SSW 2.2 ft
- 12:00 am 73° 3 SW 2.3 ft
- 3:00 am 72° 4 SW 2.4 ft
- 6:00 am 74° 4 SW 2.5 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 73 / 87 °F | 7 mph SE | 2.2 ft | 11:27 am · 10:43 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 72 / 86 °F | 8 mph SE | 2.8 ft | 12:49 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 73 / 86 °F | 6 mph SE | 2.8 ft | 12:15 am · 2:51 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 72 / 83 °F | 6 mph SE | 2.7 ft | 3:30 am · 4:07 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 75 / 85 °F | 7 mph E | 2.6 ft | 4:41 am · 4:58 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 74 / 85 °F | 7 mph E | 2.1 ft | 5:28 am · 5:39 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 71 / 85 °F | 6 mph ENE | 1.6 ft | 6:09 am · 6:15 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 68 / 86 °F | 6 mph NNE | 1.4 ft | 6:47 am · 6:47 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 69 / 86 °F | 6 mph NNE | 1.4 ft | 7:23 am · 7:16 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 70 / 86 °F | 6 mph E | 1.4 ft | 7:59 am · 7:43 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 69 / 87 °F | 7 mph ESE | 2.1 ft | 8:33 am · 8:09 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 73 / 85 °F | 9 mph SE | 3.0 ft | 9:07 am · 8:34 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 74 / 84 °F | 9 mph SE | 4.1 ft | 9:40 am · 8:55 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 72 / 83 °F | 11 mph SE | 4.7 ft | 10:15 am · 9:05 pm |
- Fri 30 Light drizzle 72° / 86° 2.8 ft
- Sat 31 Drizzle 73° / 86° 2.8 ft
- Sun 1 Drizzle 72° / 83° 2.7 ft
- Mon 2 Light drizzle 75° / 85° 2.6 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 74° / 85° 2.1 ft
- Wed 4 Partly cloudy 71° / 85° 1.6 ft
- Thu 5 Overcast 68° / 86° 1.4 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models They don't agree · low confidence: unsure about rain on Sunday 1. See the models →
- Outlook The next few weeks look normal for the time of year. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (86 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 8:48 am (local time).
The sun in Portsmith
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:52 am
- Full dark 7:10 pm
- Civil dawn 5:18 am
- Civil dusk 6:43 pm
- Solar noon 12:01 pm (86° high)
- Daylight 12 h 40 min (+1 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:52 pm
- Full dark 7:10 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,345,359 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Portsmith
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,469 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:16–3:16 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:48–3:48 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 7:24–8:24 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 9:14–10:14 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Mon, Nov 2 · 6:29 amNov 2 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 5:03 pmNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 9:48 pmNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Wed, Nov 25 · 12:54 amNov 25 in 27 days
Perigee on October 29, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 27 to 29: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Portsmith
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Sailfish Quay 1.8 mi
- Old Captain Cook Highway 5.2 mi
- Boat ramp 0.8 mi
- Boat ramp 0.9 mi
- Boat ramp 3.4 mi
- Cairns Marlin Marina 1.7 mi
- Spear N Tackle 0.5 mi
- Tackle World Cairns 0.7 mi
- Erskine's Tackle World 1.1 mi
- Cairns Professional Game Fishing Association 1.5 mi
- Queensland Fishing 1.6 mi
- Cairns Boat Hire, Self Drive Fishing & Crocodile Spotting 1.6 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Tides near PortsmithTides nearby
- Parramatta Park1.0 mi
- Cairns1.2 mi
- Westcourt1.2 mi
- Woree1.3 mi
- Cairns City1.4 mi
- Manunda2.0 mi
- White Rock2.4 mi
- Earlville2.4 mi
- Mooroobool2.4 mi
- Cairns North2.6 mi
Portsmith at a glance
- Town or city of about 474 people. Coordinates: 16.940° S, 145.768° E.
- It is 862 mi northwest of Brisbane, the main place in Queensland. The sun rises 41 min later and sets 17 min later than in Brisbane.
- The nearest tide station, Cairns, is 1.2 mi to the northeast.
- Its coast faces northeast.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Cairns Esplanade (1.6 mi).
Questions about PortsmithQuestions
What time is high tide today in Portsmith?
Today in Portsmith there are high tides at 11:27 am (8.4 ft) and 10:43 pm (5.6 ft) and low tides at 4:18 am and 5:45 pm. Tide coefficient 62.
What time is sunset today in Portsmith?
At 6:21 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:43 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Portsmith?
At 5:40 am. First light comes at 4:51 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 88% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 5:03 pm.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 27 to 29, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:16–3:16 am, Minor 7:24–8:24 am, Major 1:48–3:48 pm, Minor 9:14–10:14 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Portsmith?
Light drizzle, from 73 °F to 87 °F, with a light breeze from the east-southeast (4 mph) and a 43% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Portsmith?
Slight (Douglas 3): 2.0 ft waves with a period of 5.6 s from the east-northeast. The water is 82.2 °F.
When is the best time to visit Portsmith?
The best time to visit Portsmith is from July to October: highs of 77 °F to 85 °F, about 6 rainy days a month and 8 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Cairns station, with constants from TICON-4 (Hart-Davis, Dettmering and Seitz, 2025, SEANOE), licensed CC BY 4.0, via Slackwater database (changes). Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).