Qualicum Beach tides today
- Tide now 12.9 ft ↑ rising · high 6:39 pm (15.1 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:40–6:40 pm good day · 8/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 0.3 ft · 53 °F calm (rippled) · 1.8 s from the east-southeast
- Wind · air 8 mph · 46 °F from the ENE, gusts 11 · drizzle
- Sun 8:00 am–6:03 pm 10 h 3 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:15 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:15 pm
- Diving tomorrow 1:20–4:20 pm great day · 9/10
- Strong wind warning · Strait of Georgia - north of Nanaimo, south of Nanaimo: winds of 20 to 33 knots at sea. Until further notice. Environment Canada
Today in Qualicum Beach there are high tides at 8:41 am (16.0 ft) and 6:39 pm (15.1 ft) and low tides at 1:20 am and 1:54 pm. Tide coefficient 90. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 6:39 pm. The sun rises at 8:00 am and sets at 6:03 pm: 10 h 3 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:15 pm. Major solunar periods run from 2:01 am to 4:01 am and from 2:33 pm to 4:33 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is calm (rippled), with 0.3 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the east-northeast (8 mph). Drizzle, 46 °F.
Fishing in Qualicum Beach today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 8:41 am, coefficient 90
- Sunrise at 8:00 am
- Falling pressure (−0.11 inHg in 24 h), almost no wind and calm sea (0.1 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 90 (spring tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 7:40 am to 8:50 am, combines the 8:41 am high tide, sunrise and falling pressure. Also good from 5:40 pm to 6:40 pm, with the 6:39 pm high tide, sunset and a light onshore breeze. Also good from 12:50 pm to 1:30 pm, with the 1:54 pm low tide and a light onshore breeze.
Species with the most records nearby: coho salmon, Chinook salmon, lingcod and market squid. October is one of the months when these are seen most: Chinook salmon. What you can catch
Beach day in Qualicum Beach
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Onshore breeze (9 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 0.3 ft waves
- Low tide at 1:54 pm: more sand
- Feels like 47 °F: chilly for the beach
- Rain (0.56 in)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 0.3 ft
0.3 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 53 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 9 mph
Onshore breeze (9 mph).
- Tide & sand 1:20 am
Low tide at 1:20 am and 1:54 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 8:41 am and 6:39 pm. Coefficient 90 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.
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 Qualicum Beach
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Qualicum Beach 1.0 mi · NW
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Columbia Beach 2.3 mi · E
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Qualicum Beach
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Qualicum Beach
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 1:20 am 1.4 ft
- ▲ High tide 8:41 am 16.0 ft · coef. 90
- ▼ Low tide 1:54 pm 11.5 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 6:39 pm 15.1 ft · coef. 89
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 2 h 44 min to high tide at 6:39 pm.
Tide coefficient 90 for the 8:41 am high tide and 89 for the 6:39 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 14.6 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 January 3 (17.0 ft) and the lowest, on June 15 (-0.6 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above lower low water, large tide (LLWLT), the zero of Canadian charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. LLWLT
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 28 (coefficient 92, 14.6 ft range). The smallest, on October 18 (coefficient 38, 9.6 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 8:00 am · 6:03 pm | Low tide 1:20 am · 1.4 ft | High tide 8:41 am · 16.0 ft | Low tide 1:54 pm · 11.5 ft | High tide 6:39 pm · 15.1 ft | Coef. 90 | 91% | Major periods 2:01 am · 2:33 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 8:01 am · 6:01 pm | Low tide 2:03 am · 1.1 ft | High tide 9:38 am · 16.0 ft | Low tide 2:52 pm · 11.9 ft | High tide 7:18 pm · 14.5 ft | Coef. 85 | 83% | Major periods 3:05 am · 3:38 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 8:03 am · 5:59 pm | Low tide 2:51 am · 1.3 ft | High tide 10:38 am · 15.9 ft | Low tide 4:00 pm · 11.9 ft | High tide 8:05 pm · 13.7 ft | Coef. 77 | 73% | Major periods 4:10 am · 4:41 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 8:05 am · 5:57 pm | Low tide 3:43 am · 2.0 ft | High tide 11:40 am · 15.6 ft | Low tide 5:25 pm · 11.5 ft | High tide 9:04 pm · 12.7 ft | Coef. 68 | 62% | Major periods 5:12 am · 5:41 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 8:06 am · 5:56 pm | Low tide 4:43 am · 3.0 ft | High tide 12:41 pm · 15.3 ft | Low tide 6:55 pm · 10.6 ft | High tide 10:26 pm · 11.7 ft | Coef. 61 | Last quarter | Major periods 6:09 am · 6:35 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 8:08 am · 5:54 pm | Low tide 5:51 am · 4.2 ft | High tide 1:36 pm · 15.1 ft | Low tide 8:06 pm · 9.4 ft | — | Coef. 59 | 40% | Major periods 7:01 am · 7:26 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 8:09 am · 5:52 pm | High tide 12:22 am · 11.1 ft | Low tide 7:04 am · 5.3 ft | High tide 2:22 pm · 15.0 ft | Low tide 9:00 pm · 7.9 ft | Coef. 62 | 29% | Major periods 7:49 am · 8:12 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above LLWLT. 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 French Creek station (TICON-4), 3.7 mi from Qualicum Beach. 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 Qualicum Beach
Sea stateSea state: calm (rippled)
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.1 ft
- Significant0.3 ft
- Highest expectedHighest0.6 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 0.6 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 0.6 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Onshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind blows straight in from the sea: more surf and backwash at the shore, and bait and boats drift toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 2.2 ft with a period of 4 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 is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+1.9 °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 3:55 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 46146. Data Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (data license), via the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Diving in Qualicum Beach today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (8:41 am): little current from 8:20 am to 9:10 am
- 0.1 ft swell at 2 s from the north: barely any surge
- Light offshore wind (4 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the south, weak (model)
- Daylight
- Slack water today: low tide 1:20 am (1:05–1:35 am), high tide 8:41 am (8:20–9:10 am), low tide 1:54 pm (1:20–2:30 pm) and high tide 6:39 pm (6:10–7:00 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 52.9 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:36 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:15 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 8:00 am to 9:40 am, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind and weak current. Also worth a look from 12:40 pm to 3:30 pm, with slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with heavy rain.
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
- Madrona Point SW Nainaimo BC Fish seen: Rhinogobiops nicholsii, striped seaperch, kelp greenling, Sebastes caurinus 9.5 mi
- Cottam Point Nanaimo BC Fish seen: Rhinogobiops nicholsii, kelp greenling, Sebastes caurinus, lingcod 10 mi
- Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park 8.4 mi
- Madrona Point Dive Centre 9.3 mi
- Cottam Point Dive site 11 mi
- wall beach dive site 11 mi
- The Jib dive site 11 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). Sites and fish: Reef Life Survey / IMOS NRMN, CC BY 4.0; fish names, Wikidata.
Weather in Qualicum Beach
Now in Qualicum Beach
- Low / high
- 39 / 50 °F
- Rain
- 0.58 in · 56%
- Clouds
- 60%
- Humidity
- 83%
- Dew pointDew point
- 41 °F
- Visibility
- 2.0 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 25
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.01 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. 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 | Light drizzle | Overcast | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Light drizzle | Drizzle | Light drizzle | Heavy drizzle |
| Temperature | 45° | 42° | 40° | 40° | 50° | 47° | 43° | 41° |
| Wind (mph) | 9 NW | 3 SW | 4 SSW | 4 SW | 1 NE | 6 NNW | 5 ESE | 4 SE |
| Gusts | 13 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| Waves | 0.3 ft | 0.3 ft | 0.2 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.1 ft | 0.5 ft | 1.0 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.11 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 3:00 pm 47° 6 NNW 0.1 ft
- 6:00 pm 43° 5 ESE 0.5 ft
- 9:00 pm 41° 4 SE 1.0 ft
- 12:00 am 42° 7 SE 1.4 ft
- 3:00 am 41° 3 SE 1.6 ft
- 6:00 am 41° 2 WSW 2.0 ft
- 9:00 am 42° 1 SSE 2.2 ft
- 12:00 pm 45° 13 E 1.9 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 39 / 50 °F | 9 mph SE | 1.4 ft | 8:41 am · 6:39 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 40 / 46 °F | 13 mph E | 2.2 ft | 9:38 am · 7:18 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 38 / 47 °F | 6 mph NE | 0.4 ft | 10:38 am · 8:05 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 38 / 48 °F | 6 mph ESE | 0.1 ft | 11:40 am · 9:04 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 37 / 49 °F | 7 mph SE | 0.5 ft | 12:41 pm · 10:26 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 40 / 49 °F | 7 mph SE | 0.6 ft | 1:36 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 41 / 51 °F | 5 mph ENE | 0.2 ft | 12:22 am · 2:22 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 41 / 52 °F | 4 mph SE | 0.1 ft | 2:17 am · 3:01 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 43 / 51 °F | 4 mph SE | 0.4 ft | 3:43 am · 3:33 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 43 / 50 °F | 11 mph SE | 2.8 ft | 4:52 am · 4:00 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 43 / 50 °F | 7 mph SE | 3.8 ft | 5:49 am · 4:25 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 43 / 56 °F | 10 mph SSE | 2.8 ft | 6:40 am · 4:49 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 49 / 58 °F | 8 mph SE | 4.4 ft | 7:26 am · 5:13 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 56 / 65 °F | 6 mph S | 3.9 ft | 8:09 am · 5:38 pm |
- Thu 29 Light rain 40° / 46° 2.2 ft
- Fri 30 Light rain 38° / 47° 0.4 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 38° / 48° 0.1 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 37° / 49° 0.5 ft
- Mon 2 Light drizzle 40° / 49° 0.6 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 41° / 51° 0.2 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 41° / 52° 0.1 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 Partly agree · medium confidence: unsure about rain tomorrow. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer and normal rain. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−3.8 °F; normal high: 53 °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 3:55 pm (local time).
The sun in Qualicum Beach
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:49 am
- Full dark 7:13 pm
- Civil dawn 7:27 am
- Civil dusk 6:36 pm
- Solar noon 1:02 pm (27° high)
- Daylight 10 h 3 min (−3 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:17 pm
- Full dark 7:13 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,425 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Qualicum Beach
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 2:01–4:01 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:33–4:33 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:17 am–12:17 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 6:45–7:45 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 Sun, Nov 1 · 1:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 12:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 4:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 7:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Qualicum Beach
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Jetty 3.9 mi
- Boat ramp 3.9 mi
- French Creek Marina 3.8 mi
- Coast Sportfish 4.2 mi
- Qualicum Rivers Fishing Resort 4.7 mi
- Enforcer Bait Molds 6.1 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 Qualicum BeachTides nearby
- French Creek3.9 mi
- Parksville6.0 mi
- Nanoose Bay12 mi
- Bowser13 mi
- Fairwinds15 mi
- Hornby Island16 mi
- Port Alberni18 mi
- Lantzville18 mi
- Fanny Bay19 mi
- Denman Island21 mi
Qualicum Beach at a glance
- Town or city of about 9,303 people. Coordinates: 49.348° N, 124.442° W.
- It is 80 mi northwest of Victoria, the main place in British Columbia. The sun rises 6 min later and sets 2 min later than in Victoria.
- The nearest tide station, French Creek, is 3.7 mi to the east.
- Its coast faces east.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Columbia Beach (2.2 mi).
Questions about Qualicum BeachQuestions
What time is high tide today in Qualicum Beach?
Today in Qualicum Beach there are high tides at 8:41 am (16.0 ft) and 6:39 pm (15.1 ft) and low tides at 1:20 am and 1:54 pm. Tide coefficient 90.
What time is sunset today in Qualicum Beach?
At 6:03 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:36 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Qualicum Beach?
At 8:01 am. First light comes at 6:51 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 12:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 2:01–4:01 am, Minor 11:17 am–12:17 pm, Major 2:33–4:33 pm, Minor 6:45–7:45 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Qualicum Beach?
Heavy drizzle, from 39 °F to 50 °F, with a gentle breeze from the east-northeast (8 mph) and a 56% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Qualicum Beach?
Calm (rippled) (Douglas 1): 0.3 ft waves with a period of 1.8 s from the east-southeast. The water is 53.1 °F.
When is the best time to visit Qualicum Beach?
The best time to visit Qualicum Beach is from July to August: highs of 74 °F to 74 °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: French Creek 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).