TidePlanet

Today in Fahan there are high tides at 6:56 am (14.6 ft) and 7:21 pm (14.7 ft) and low tides at 12:42 am and 1:05 pm. Tide coefficient 101. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 1:24 am. The sun rises at 7:26 am and sets at 5:01 pm: 9 h 35 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:28 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:53 am to 2:53 am and from 1:24 pm to 3:24 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 2.4 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the south (6 mph). Overcast, 53 °F.

Fishing

Fishing in Fahan today

Fishing forecast, 7 days →

Best time to fish

Solunar activity today: high
8
Good day · 8 out of 10 1:20–2:10 pm Also 6:50–8:00 am and 12:50–1:40 am
  • Low tide at 1:05 pm
  • Major period 1:24–3:24 pm
  • Rising pressure (+0.49 inHg in 24 h), light onshore wind (12 mph) and some swell (3.0 ft waves) to stir the water
  • Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
  • Highest tide coefficient today: 101 (big spring tides)
  • A minor period lines up with sunset

Your day at a glance

The best window, 1:20 pm to 2:10 pm, combines the 1:05 pm low tide, a major period, a light onshore breeze and some swell, though with rising pressure. Also worth a try from 6:50 am to 8:00 am, with the 6:56 am high tide, sunrise, a light onshore breeze and some swell, though with rising pressure. Also worth a try from 12:50 am to 1:40 am, with the 12:42 am low tide, a major period and some swell, though with rising pressure and moderate wind.

Species with the most records nearby: European flounder, European plaice, small-spotted catshark and thornback ray. October is one of the months when these are seen most: thornback ray. What you can catch

How it works · Next 7 days · Fishing rules

Beach

Beach day in Fahan

Beach forecast, 7 days →

Is it a beach day?

0
Not a beach day · 0 out of 10 No good beach time today.
  • Low tide at 1:05 pm: more sand
  • Cloudy (91% cloud cover)
  • Feels like 52 °F: chilly for the beach
  • Moderate onshore wind (13 mph): choppy water
  • Swim with care: 3.3 ft waves every 11 s; moderate rip current risk
  • Water at 54 °F (very cold)

Today, hour by hour

  • Swimming Use care · 3.3 ft

    3.3 ft waves every 11 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.

  • Water 54 °F

    Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.

  • Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15

    Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.

  • Wind 13 mph

    Moderate onshore wind (13 mph).

  • Tide & sand 12:42 am

    Low tide at 12:42 am and 1:05 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 6:56 am and 7:21 pm. Coefficient 101 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.

The EPA Ireland (beaches.ie) issues its bathing notices in season, from 1 June to 15 September; none are in force now. We don't have data on jellyfish or sargassum: ask the lifeguard or check the flags. How it works · The next 7 days

Beaches near Fahan

Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors

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). Bathing water quality: European Environment Agency (EEA), with data from the authorities of Ireland.

Tides

Tides in Fahan

Tides for 7 days →

Today's high and low tides

  • ▼ Low tide 12:42 am 1.8 ft
  • ▲ High tide 6:56 am 14.6 ft · coef. 101
  • ▼ Low tide 1:05 pm 1.9 ft
  • ▲ High tide 7:21 pm 14.7 ft · coef. 99

↓ Falling The tide is falling. 2 h 36 min to low tide at 1:24 am.

Tide coefficient 101 for the 6:56 am high tide and 99 for the 7:21 pm high tide. Big spring tides. The water rises and falls 12.9 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 March 20 (15.3 ft) and the lowest, on April 18 (0.9 ft).

Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.

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 26 to 28 (coefficient 102, 13.3 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 28, 4.1 ft).

Tide and solunar table · this week

Day Sun Tide 1Tide 2Tide 3Tide 4 Coef. Moon Major periods Activity
Today, Wed 28 7:26 am · 5:01 pm Low tide 12:42 am · 1.8 ft High tide 6:56 am · 14.6 ft Low tide 1:05 pm · 1.9 ft High tide 7:21 pm · 14.7 ft Coef. 101 92% Major periods 12:53 am · 1:24 pm High
Thu 29 7:28 am · 4:59 pm Low tide 1:24 am · 2.1 ft High tide 7:39 am · 14.3 ft Low tide 1:52 pm · 2.3 ft High tide 8:07 pm · 13.8 ft Coef. 95 85% Major periods 1:56 am · 2:29 pm High
Fri 30 7:30 am · 4:57 pm Low tide 2:09 am · 2.7 ft High tide 8:26 am · 13.8 ft Low tide 2:44 pm · 3.1 ft High tide 8:59 pm · 12.7 ft Coef. 84 76% Major periods 3:01 am · 3:33 pm Medium
Sat 31 7:32 am · 4:54 pm Low tide 2:58 am · 3.5 ft High tide 9:23 am · 13.0 ft Low tide 3:47 pm · 4.0 ft High tide 10:05 pm · 11.4 ft Coef. 69 65% Major periods 4:04 am · 4:34 pm Medium
Sun 1 7:34 am · 4:52 pm Low tide 3:55 am · 4.4 ft High tide 10:41 am · 12.2 ft Low tide 5:13 pm · 4.7 ft High tide 11:38 pm · 10.6 ft Coef. 56 Last quarter Major periods 5:03 am · 5:30 pm Low
Mon 2 7:36 am · 4:50 pm Low tide 5:10 am · 5.1 ft High tide 12:21 pm · 11.9 ft Low tide 6:55 pm · 4.9 ft — Coef. 48 43% Major periods 5:57 am · 6:22 pm Medium
Tue 3 7:38 am · 4:48 pm High tide 1:08 am · 10.4 ft Low tide 6:46 am · 5.2 ft High tide 1:42 pm · 12.1 ft Low tide 8:14 pm · 4.5 ft Coef. 50 32% Major periods 6:46 am · 7:10 pm Medium

▲ 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

A · Official station

Tides from the Buncrana station (Marine Institute), 2.7 mi from Fahan. Times and heights are its predictions.

Station data attribution: Marine Institute, Ireland: tide prediction for Buncrana, https://erddap.marine.ie/erddap/tabledap/imiTidePrediction.html. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: harmonic constants fitted by TidePlanet from the hourly prediction of 2026.

How we calculate the tide

Sea and waves

The sea at Fahan

7-day waves

Sea stateSea state: slight

Slight Douglas 3 · gentle breeze, Beaufort 3
Waves 2.4 ft · 10.1 s from the northwest (317°)
Swell 2.2 ft · 8.7 s from the northwest
Current 0.2 mph toward the ENE

The waves you may find

  • Most commonMost common1.2 ft
  • Significant2.4 ft
  • Highest expectedHighest4.7 ft

One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 4.7 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 4.7 ft.

Wind on the coast and offshore

On the coast 6 mph S · gusts 11
Offshore (16 mi NW)Offshore 12 mph S · gusts 17

Cross-onshore wind. The coast faces west and the wind comes in from the sea at an angle: a bit more surf at the shore and drift along the coast, toward land.

Cross-onshore Hourly wind →

Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days

Waves ease over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 3.7 ft with a period of 10 s, from the northwest (slight).

Water temperature

Water temperature →
Water now54.1 °F
Today 53.8–54.1 °F air: 49 / 56 °F
Satellite (yesterday) 54.5 °F measured 0.6 mi away

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 about normal for late October.

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 10:48 pm (local time).

Diving

Diving in Fahan today

Diving and snorkeling, 7 days →

Diving and snorkeling today

Likely visibility: poor
6
Average day · 6 out of 10 12:40–2:00 pm Also 6:50–8:20 am
  • Slack water around low tide (1:05 pm): little current from 12:50 pm to 1:20 pm
  • 3.0 ft swell at 9 s from the northwest: some surge on the bottom
  • Moderate onshore wind (12 mph)
  • 0.2 mph current toward the east-northeast, weak (model)
  • Sun high: more light underwater
Swell 3.0 ft 9 s · from the NW
Likely visibility Poor Snorkeling: fair
Water and suit 53.8 °F 7 mm semi-dry suit
Current 0.2 mph toward the ENE
  • Slack water today: low tide 12:42 am (12:27–1:00 am), high tide 6:56 am (6:40–7:20 am), low tide 1:05 pm (12:50–1:20 pm) and high tide 7:21 pm (7:00–7:40 pm)
  • Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 3.5 ft at 10 s) and rain (0.30 in) over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
  • Water at 53.8 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
  • Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
  • Night dive: dark from 5:39 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 5:28 pm: a bright night.

Your diving day at a glance

The best window, 12:40 pm to 2:00 pm, combines slack water at low tide, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell and moderate wind. Also worth a look from 6:50 am to 8:20 am, with slack water at high tide, light wind and weak current, though with some swell.

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.

How it works · Next 7 days

Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby

Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.

Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Wrecks: EMODnet Human Activities (AND-International), from UK Hydrographic Office data, CC BY 4.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Weather

Weather in Fahan

14-day weather

Now in Fahan

Now 53 °F Overcast · feels like 50 °F · 49 / 56 °F
Low / high
49 / 56 °F
Rain
0.09 in · 100%
Clouds
100%
Humidity
91%
Dew pointDew point
50 °F
Visibility
13 mi
UV indexUV
0 · low
Air qualityAir
Fair · 24
Saharan dust
No
Pollen
None

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 (+0.02 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.18 inHg. 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 am3:00 am6:00 am9:00 am12:00 pm3:00 pm6:00 pm9:00 pm
Sky Light rainLight showersLight rainPartly cloudyOvercastOvercastOvercastOvercast
Temperature 49°53°52°53°56°56°54°53°
Wind (mph) 15 SSW13 WSW9 WSW10 WSW12 WSW11 SW6 SSW5 S
Gusts 2726171923211211
Waves 3.7 ft3.6 ft3.4 ft3.2 ft3.1 ft3.0 ft2.7 ft2.4 ft
Rain 0.01 in0.01 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in
  • 12:00 am 53° 7 S 2.3 ft
  • 3:00 am 53° 8 S 2.1 ft
  • 6:00 am 52° 8 SSE 2.0 ft
  • 9:00 am 52° 11 SSE 1.8 ft
  • 12:00 pm 55° 13 SSE 1.6 ft
  • 3:00 pm 55° 13 S 1.6 ft
  • 6:00 pm 53° 12 SSE 1.5 ft
  • 9:00 pm 52° 14 SSE 1.5 ft

Next 14 daysComing days

Day Sky Low / high Max wind Max wave High tides
Today · 28 Light showers 49 / 56 °F 15 mph SW 3.7 ft 6:56 am · 7:21 pm
Thu 29 Overcast 51 / 56 °F 15 mph SSE 2.3 ft 7:39 am · 8:07 pm
Fri 30 Light showers 52 / 57 °F 15 mph S 1.6 ft 8:26 am · 8:59 pm
Sat 31 Light rain 50 / 56 °F 6 mph SSW 1.6 ft 9:23 am · 10:05 pm
Sun 1 Overcast 44 / 52 °F 6 mph N 1.5 ft 10:41 am · 11:38 pm
Mon 2 Partly cloudy 39 / 52 °F 4 mph ESE 1.3 ft 12:21 pm
Tue 3 Overcast 37 / 47 °F 2 mph SE 0.7 ft 1:08 am · 1:42 pm
Wed 4 Overcast 41 / 50 °F 3 mph SE 1.0 ft 2:17 am · 2:45 pm
Thu 5 Overcast 44 / 52 °F 10 mph ESE 1.0 ft 3:13 am · 3:37 pm
Fri 6 Mainly clear 41 / 52 °F 11 mph ESE 1.0 ft 3:59 am · 4:21 pm
Sat 7 Overcast 38 / 49 °F 6 mph ESE — 4:39 am · 4:59 pm
Sun 8 Overcast 33 / 46 °F 6 mph E — 5:15 am · 5:32 pm
Mon 9 Light drizzle 45 / 53 °F 6 mph ENE — 5:49 am · 6:03 pm
Tue 10 Light drizzle 50 / 54 °F 7 mph ENE — 6:22 am · 6:33 pm
  • Thu 29 Overcast 51° / 56° 2.3 ft
  • Fri 30 Light showers 52° / 57° 1.6 ft
  • Sat 31 Light rain 50° / 56° 1.6 ft
  • Sun 1 Overcast 44° / 52° 1.5 ft
  • Mon 2 Partly cloudy 39° / 52° 1.3 ft
  • Tue 3 Overcast 37° / 47° 0.7 ft
  • Wed 4 Overcast 41° / 50° 1.0 ft
See all 14 days →

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 on Friday 30. See the models →
  • Outlook The next few weeks look normal for the time of year. See the outlook →
  • Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+3.3 °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 10:48 pm (local time).

Sun

The sun in Fahan

Sunrise and sunset →

Sunrise and sunset

Rises 7:26 am in the ESE (112°)ESE
Sets 5:01 pm in the WSW (248°)WSW
  • First light 6:05 am
  • Full dark 6:22 pm
  • Civil dawn 6:48 am
  • Civil dusk 5:39 pm
  • Solar noon 12:14 pm (22° high)
  • Daylight 9 h 35 min (−4 min)
  • Evening golden hour 4:07 pm
  • Full dark 6:22 pm

Golden hour and the day-night map

Morning golden hour7:26–8:20 am
Evening golden hour4:07–5:01 pm
Fahan

Today the sun is 92,359,354 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.

Moon and solunar

The moon in Fahan

The moon for 7 days →

Moon phase and position

Waning gibbous · 92% 92% illuminated · 17.8 days old New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 am
Rises 5:28 pm in the NE (38°)NE
Sets 12:35 pm tomorrow · in the NW (324°) · set at 11:14 am
Transit 1:53 am overhead
Visible 19 h 7 min from 5:28 pm to 12:35 pm

Today the moon is 226,451 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.

Solunar periods

Today's activity: high
  • 12:53–2:53 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
  • 1:24–3:24 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
  • 10:44–11:44 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
  • 4:58–5:58 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 · 8:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
  • New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
  • First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 11:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
  • Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 2:54 pmNov 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.

Place

Where to fish in Fahan

All places in Donegal →

Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby

Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors

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.

Water depth

Shallow, gradual

Shallow, gradual bottom: you need to go 1.6 mi out for 33 ft of water.

From the shoreline (1,100 ft from Fahan) out to sea, heading west.

How far from shore

  • 16 ft deep1.5 mi
  • 33 ft deep1.6 mi
  • 66 ft deepnot within 3 mi
  • 164 ft deepnot within 3 mi

For fishing, swimming and diving

  • Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 1.5 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
  • Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
  • Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 1.6 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.

Inside bays, estuaries and harbors the bottom changes a lot from spot to spot (channels and shoals): use this only as a rough guide. There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 3 mi out. The profile is turned slightly from the coast so it does not run into an island or a headland. Where the bottom comes up to the surface there are shoals, rocks or an islet next to the profile.

Source: EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024 (CC BY 4.0), cells of about 380 ft; depth at the lowest astronomical tide. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.

Nearest lighthouse

Buncrana Lighthouse 2.7 mi north

Light
Light, on and off for equal times, every 4 s; white or red depending on where you see it from · Iso WR 4s
Range
13 nautical miles (15 mi)
Light height
36 ft above sea level
Tower height
20 ft

Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikidata · Sources and licenses

Tides near FahanTides nearby

All places in Donegal, A to Z (284) →

Fahan at a glance

  • Town or city of about 588 people. Coordinates: 55.089° N, 7.474° W.
  • It is 3.2 mi south of Buncrana, the main place in Donegal. The sun rises at the same time and sets at the same time than in Buncrana.
  • The nearest tide station, Buncrana, is 2.7 mi to the north.
  • Its coast faces west.
  • Beaches and harbors nearby: Lisfannon Beach (0.5 mi).

Questions about FahanQuestions

What time is high tide today in Fahan?

Today in Fahan there are high tides at 6:56 am (14.6 ft) and 7:21 pm (14.7 ft) and low tides at 12:42 am and 1:05 pm. Tide coefficient 101.

What time is sunset today in Fahan?

At 5:01 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:39 pm.

What time is sunrise tomorrow in Fahan?

At 7:28 am. First light comes at 6:07 am.

What phase is the moon today?

Waning gibbous, 92% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 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 12:53–2:53 am, Minor 10:44–11:44 am, Major 1:24–3:24 pm, Minor 4:58–5:58 pm. Today's activity is high.

What's the weather like today in Fahan?

Light showers, from 49 °F to 56 °F, with a light breeze from the south (6 mph) and a 100% chance of rain.

How is the sea today in Fahan?

Slight (Douglas 3): 2.4 ft waves with a period of 10.1 s from the northwest. The water is 54.1 °F.

When is the best time to visit Fahan?

The best time to visit Fahan is from June to August: highs of 60 °F to 63 °F, about 15 rainy days a month and 5 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: Buncrana prediction point of the Marine Institute (Ireland), licensed CC BY 4.0; constants fitted by TidePlanet from a year of its predictions. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Spotted a mistake? Tell us · How we calculate the tide

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