Gortahork tides today
- Tide now 3.5 ft ↓ falling · low 1:19 am (1.7 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 6:50–8:20 am good day · 7/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 7.4 ft · 55 °F moderate · 9.6 s from the west-northwest
- Wind · air 9 mph · 54 °F from the S, gusts 16 · overcast
- Surf tomorrow 2.3–3.5 ft Good day · 6/10 · 2:00–5:39 pm
- Sun 7:28 am–5:03 pm 9 h 35 min of daylight
- Moon 92% · 5:31 pm waning gibbous · rises at 5:31 pm
Today in Gortahork there are high tides at 6:49 am (13.9 ft) and 7:07 pm (13.5 ft) and low tides at 12:40 am and 1:02 pm. Tide coefficient 97. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 1:19 am. The sun rises at 7:28 am and sets at 5:03 pm: 9 h 35 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:31 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:56 am to 2:56 am and from 1:27 pm to 3:27 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 7.4 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the south (9 mph). Overcast, 54 °F.
Fishing in Gortahork today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 6:49 am, coefficient 97
- Sunrise at 7:28 am
- Rising pressure (+0.71 inHg in 24 h), moderate cross-shore wind (18 mph) and rough sea: 11 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 97 (spring tides)
- A minor period lines up with sunset
Bad weather during the best window: strong wind or big waves. If you go out, be very careful and stay off rocks and jetties.
Your day at a glance
The best window, 6:50 am to 7:50 am, combines the 6:49 am high tide and sunrise, though with rising pressure, moderate wind and rough seas.
Species with the most records nearby: small-spotted catshark, European plaice, whiting and haddock. October is one of the months when these are seen most: small-spotted catshark and thornback ray. What you can catch
Beach day in Gortahork
Is it a beach day?
- Low tide at 1:02 pm: more sand
- Cloudy (87% cloud cover)
- Feels like 50 °F: chilly for the beach
- 99% chance of rain
- Fresh offshore wind (18 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- Dangerous for swimming: 11 ft waves every 11 s; high rip current risk
Dangerous surf during beach hours. Stay out if the red flag is up, and never swim where there is no lifeguard.
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Dangerous · 11 ft
11 ft waves every 11 s: dangerous for swimming. Stay out if the red flag is up. High rip current risk. If you're caught in a rip current, don't swim against it: swim parallel to shore and wave for help. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 55 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 18 mph
Fresh offshore wind (18 mph): blowing sand. Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 12:40 am
Low tide at 12:40 am and 1:02 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 6:49 am and 7:07 pm.
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 Gortahork
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Magheroarty Beach 2.8 mi · N
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, EEA
- Drumnatinney Beach 3.2 mi · NE
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, EEA
- Tramore Strand 6.0 mi · NE
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.
Webcams near Gortahork
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Gortahork
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 12:40 am 1.3 ft
- ▲ High tide 6:49 am 13.9 ft · coef. 97
- ▼ Low tide 1:02 pm 1.7 ft
- ▲ High tide 7:07 pm 13.5 ft · coef. 95
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 1 h 33 min to low tide at 1:19 am.
Tide coefficient 97 for the 6:49 am high tide and 95 for the 7:07 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 12.5 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 August 13 (14.7 ft) and the lowest, on September 12 (0.6 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 98, 12.5 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 24, 3.8 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 | 7:28 am · 5:03 pm | Low tide 12:40 am · 1.3 ft | High tide 6:49 am · 13.9 ft | Low tide 1:02 pm · 1.7 ft | High tide 7:07 pm · 13.5 ft | Coef. 97 | 92% | Major periods 12:56 am · 1:27 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:30 am · 5:01 pm | Low tide 1:19 am · 1.7 ft | High tide 7:30 am · 13.8 ft | Low tide 1:46 pm · 2.1 ft | High tide 7:51 pm · 12.9 ft | Coef. 92 | 85% | Major periods 1:59 am · 2:32 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:32 am · 4:59 pm | Low tide 2:01 am · 2.3 ft | High tide 8:16 am · 13.5 ft | Low tide 2:36 pm · 2.7 ft | High tide 8:39 pm · 12.1 ft | Coef. 83 | 76% | Major periods 3:04 am · 3:36 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:34 am · 4:57 pm | Low tide 2:49 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 9:08 am · 12.9 ft | Low tide 3:34 pm · 3.3 ft | High tide 9:37 pm · 11.1 ft | Coef. 72 | 65% | Major periods 4:07 am · 4:37 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:37 am · 4:55 pm | Low tide 3:45 am · 3.6 ft | High tide 10:12 am · 12.3 ft | Low tide 4:43 pm · 3.9 ft | High tide 10:49 pm · 10.3 ft | Coef. 61 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:06 am · 5:33 pm | Low |
| Mon 2 | 7:39 am · 4:53 pm | Low tide 4:53 am · 4.2 ft | High tide 11:28 am · 11.8 ft | Low tide 6:05 pm · 4.1 ft | — | Coef. 54 | 43% | Major periods 5:59 am · 6:25 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:41 am · 4:51 pm | High tide 12:14 am · 9.9 ft | Low tide 6:14 am · 4.3 ft | High tide 12:50 pm · 11.7 ft | Low tide 7:25 pm · 3.8 ft | Coef. 54 | 32% | Major periods 6:49 am · 7:12 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
Gortahork has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Tory Island (Marine Institute), 9.6 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger.
Station data attribution: Marine Institute, Ireland: tide prediction for Tory Island (from the Marine Institute operational hydrodynamic model), 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.
The sea at Gortahork
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common3.7 ft
- Significant7.4 ft
- Highest expectedHighest15 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 15 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 15 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Offshore wind. The coast faces north and the wind blows from land out to sea: calm shore and clean waves, but watch the drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves ease over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 14 ft with a period of 11 s, from the west (very rough).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water cools over the next few days: about 54.2 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+1.1 °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 11:46 pm (local time).
Surf in Gortahork today
Surf today
Good- 5.1–7.8 ft surf at the shore, a good size with some punch
- Big surf (7.8 ft): for experienced surfers
- 6.8 ft swell at 9 s from the northwest, a bit short
- Moderate offshore wind (15 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Rising tide (high tide at 7:07 pm)
Big surf: for experienced surfers only. If in doubt, stay on the beach.
- Light: First light 6:50 am · sunrise 7:28 am · sunset 5:03 pm · last light 5:42 pm
- Tide: low 12:40 am (1.3 ft), high 6:49 am (13.9 ft), low 1:02 pm (1.7 ft) and high 7:07 pm (13.5 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 55.0 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 729 kJ · High power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 2:00 pm to 5:42 pm, has a good size and light offshore wind, though with big surf.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Gortahork today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- Some tidal current
- 7.0 ft swell at 9 s from the northwest: strong surge on the bottom
- Moderate offshore wind (16 mph): it pushes surface swimmers away from shore
- 1.0 mph current toward the east-northeast (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
Not a day for shore diving: swell, wind, current or storms during the best window. If you go, go with a dive shop and only if they give the OK.
- Slack water today: low tide 12:40 am (12:20–1:00 am), high tide 6:49 am (6:30–7:10 am), low tide 1:02 pm (12:40–1:20 pm) and high tide 7:07 pm (6:40–7:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 12 ft at 11 s), rain (0.48 in) and wind over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 55.0 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 5:42 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 5:31 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, lines up with the sun high, though with tidal current, a big swell, moderate wind and current. Also worth a look from 11:40 am to 12:30 pm, with weak current and the sun high, though with tidal current, a big swell and moderate wind.
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
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 in Gortahork
Now in Gortahork
- Low / high
- 52 / 56 °F
- Rain
- 0.17 in · 100%
- Clouds
- 89%
- Humidity
- 84%
- Dew pointDew point
- 50 °F
- Visibility
- 19 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 22
- 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 (+0.01 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 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Light rain | Overcast | Light rain | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 52° | 54° | 53° | 54° | 56° | 56° | 55° | 55° |
| Wind (mph) | 20 SW | 19 WSW | 14 WSW | 16 WSW | 18 WSW | 15 SW | 10 SW | 8 SSW |
| Gusts | 34 | 39 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 23 | 15 |
| Waves | 14 ft | 13 ft | 12 ft | 11 ft | 10 ft | 9.5 ft | 8.8 ft | 8.1 ft |
| Rain | 0.10 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 12:00 am 54° 9 S 7.4 ft
- 3:00 am 54° 9 S 6.8 ft
- 6:00 am 53° 8 S 6.4 ft
- 9:00 am 53° 8 SSE 6.0 ft
- 12:00 pm 56° 13 S 5.6 ft
- 3:00 pm 56° 13 SSE 5.5 ft
- 6:00 pm 54° 13 SSE 5.6 ft
- 9:00 pm 52° 17 SSE 5.6 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 52 / 56 °F | 23 mph SW | 14 ft | 6:49 am · 7:07 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 52 / 56 °F | 19 mph SSE | 7.4 ft | 7:30 am · 7:51 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 53 / 60 °F | 19 mph S | 6.1 ft | 8:16 am · 8:39 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 50 / 58 °F | 5 mph WNW | 6.2 ft | 9:08 am · 9:37 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 46 / 53 °F | 5 mph NNE | 5.7 ft | 10:12 am · 10:49 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 42 / 54 °F | 5 mph SE | 4.6 ft | 11:28 am | |
| Tue 3 | 40 / 50 °F | 7 mph SE | 4.6 ft | 12:14 am · 12:50 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 45 / 51 °F | 6 mph SE | 5.7 ft | 1:35 am · 2:03 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 45 / 52 °F | 9 mph ESE | 4.3 ft | 2:41 am · 3:03 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 42 / 51 °F | 11 mph ESE | 3.1 ft | 3:34 am · 3:54 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 36 / 48 °F | 7 mph ESE | 2.6 ft | 4:20 am · 4:38 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 32 / 47 °F | 10 mph ESE | 2.8 ft | 5:00 am · 5:17 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 46 / 54 °F | 10 mph ESE | 2.8 ft | 5:38 am · 5:53 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 48 / 54 °F | 7 mph E | 3.0 ft | 6:14 am · 6:27 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 52° / 56° 7.4 ft
- Fri 30 Light showers 53° / 60° 6.1 ft
- Sat 31 Light showers 50° / 58° 6.2 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 46° / 53° 5.7 ft
- Mon 2 Partly cloudy 42° / 54° 4.6 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 40° / 50° 4.6 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 45° / 51° 5.7 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 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 (+2.8 °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 11:46 pm (local time).
The sun in Gortahork
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:07 am
- Full dark 6:24 pm
- Civil dawn 6:50 am
- Civil dusk 5:42 pm
- Solar noon 12:16 pm (22° high)
- Daylight 9 h 35 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 4:09 pm
- Full dark 6:24 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,359,309 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Gortahork
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,451 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:56–2:56 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:27–3:27 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:48–11:48 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 5:01–6:01 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.
Where to fish in Gortahork
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Ballyness Pier 2.3 mi
- Portnablaghy Pier 9.3 mi
- Magheraroarty Pier 2.6 mi
- Boat ramp 3.8 mi
- Boat ramp 6.7 mi
- Boat ramp 7.0 mi
- Boat ramp 7.7 mi
- Boat ramp 8.1 mi
- Boat ramp 8.2 mi
- Boat ramp 9.3 mi
- Dunfanaghy Harbour 7.9 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.
Water depth
Very shallowVery shallow and flat: even 2 mi from shore the water is less than 16 ft deep.
From the shoreline (0.8 mi from Gortahork) out to sea, heading north.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deepnot within 2 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 2 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 2 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 2 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Very shallow: the water doesn't reach 16 ft within 2 mi. Cast far from the beach, ideally around high tide.
- 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: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 2 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves). There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 2 mi out. Where the bottom comes up to the surface there are shoals, rocks or an islet next to the profile.
Source: EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024, here using the GEBCO grid (CC BY 4.0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth at the lowest astronomical tide. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near GortahorkTides nearby
- Falcarragh1.7 mi
- Meenlaragh2.9 mi
- Derrybeg6.6 mi
- Dunfanaghy8.0 mi
- Creeslough8.9 mi
- Rann Na Feirste8.9 mi
- Annagary9.8 mi
- Carrigart14 mi
- Dungloe15 mi
- Burtonport15 mi
Gortahork at a glance
- Town or city of about 197 people. Coordinates: 55.117° N, 8.133° W.
- It is 27 mi west of Buncrana, the main place in Donegal. The sun rises 3 min later and sets 3 min later than in Buncrana.
- The nearest tide station, Tory Island, is 9.6 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces north.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Port Marsh (2.5 mi), Ballyness Harbour (2.7 mi), Curran’s Port (3.9 mi).
Questions about GortahorkQuestions
What time is high tide today in Gortahork?
Today in Gortahork there are high tides at 6:49 am (13.9 ft) and 7:07 pm (13.5 ft) and low tides at 12:40 am and 1:02 pm. Tide coefficient 97.
What time is sunset today in Gortahork?
At 5:03 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:42 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Gortahork?
At 7:30 am. First light comes at 6:09 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 12:56–2:56 am, Minor 10:48–11:48 am, Major 1:27–3:27 pm, Minor 5:01–6:01 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Gortahork?
Light showers, from 52 °F to 56 °F, with a gentle breeze from the south (9 mph) and a 100% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Gortahork?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 7.4 ft waves with a period of 9.6 s from the west-northwest. The water is 55.4 °F.
When is the best time to visit Gortahork?
The best time to visit Gortahork is from June to August: highs of 60 °F to 63 °F, about 16 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: Tory Island prediction point of the Marine Institute (Ireland), computed with its ocean model, 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).