Margate tides today
- Tide now -2.5 ft ↑ rising · high 5:15 am (2.4 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 4:40–5:40 am good day · 7/10
- Beach day 1:00–4:00 pm Poor beach day · 4/10
- Waves · water 5.6 ft · 73 °F moderate · 8.8 s from the southeast
- Wind · air 2 mph · 62 °F from the N, gusts 5 · clear
- Surf tomorrow 3.9–6.0 ft Good day · 6/10 · 5:00–9:00 am
- Sun 5:06 am–6:19 pm 13 h 12 min of daylight
- Moon 93% · 9:17 pm waning gibbous · rises at 9:17 pm
Today in Margate there are high tides at 4:37 am (2.7 ft) and 4:54 pm (2.9 ft) and low tides at 10:39 am and 11:05 pm. Tide coefficient 104. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 5:15 am. The sun rises at 5:06 am and sets at 6:19 pm: 13 h 12 min of daylight. The moon is 93% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:17 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:15 am to 2:15 am and from 12:46 pm to 2:46 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 5.6 ft waves. There's a light air from the north (2 mph). Clear, 62 °F.
Fishing in Margate today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 4:37 am, coefficient 104
- Sunrise at 5:06 am
- Rising pressure (+0.16 inHg in 24 h), almost no wind and 6.4 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 104 (big spring tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 4:40 am to 5:40 am, combines the 4:37 am high tide and sunrise, though with rising pressure. Also good from 3:50 pm to 5:50 pm, with the 4:54 pm high tide, sunset and a light onshore breeze. Also worth a try from 9:40 am to 11:40 am, with the 10:39 am low tide and a light onshore breeze, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: dusky grouper, sand steenbras, bluefish and bullet tuna. What you can catch
Beach day in Margate
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Feels like 76 °F: pleasant
- Onshore breeze (9 mph)
- UV 8 (high): SPF 50 sunscreen
- Water at 74 °F (nice)
- Swim with care: 5.6 ft waves every 8 s; moderate rip current risk
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 5.6 ft
5.6 ft waves every 8 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 74 °F
Nice for swimming.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 9 · SPF 50
Max UV 9 (very high): SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. Seek shade 11:00 am–1:00 pm (very high UV).
- Wind 9 mph
Onshore breeze (9 mph).
- Tide & sand 10:39 am
Low tide at 10:39 am and 11:05 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 4:37 am and 4:54 pm. Coefficient 104 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.
The best window, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, brings pleasant temperatures, little wind and water at 74 °F, though with some waves.
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 Margate
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Margate Beach 0.1 mi · NE
- Parking
- Lucien Beach 0.7 mi · NE
- Parking
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 Margate
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Margate
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 4:37 am 2.7 ft · coef. 104
- ▼ Low tide 10:39 am -2.8 ft
- ▲ High tide 4:54 pm 2.9 ft · coef. 99
- ▼ Low tide 11:05 pm -2.8 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 5 h 17 min to high tide at 5:15 am.
Tide coefficient 104 for the 4:37 am high tide and 99 for the 4:54 pm high tide. Big spring tides. The water rises and falls 5.8 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 (3.5 ft) and the lowest, on March 20 (-3.2 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above mean sea level. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. mean sea level
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 27 (coefficient 108, 6.4 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 20, 1.0 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 | 5:06 am · 6:19 pm | High tide 4:37 am · 2.7 ft | Low tide 10:39 am · -2.8 ft | High tide 4:54 pm · 2.9 ft | Low tide 11:05 pm · -2.8 ft | Coef. 104 | 93% | Major periods 12:15 am · 12:46 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 5:05 am · 6:20 pm | High tide 5:15 am · 2.4 ft | Low tide 11:17 am · -2.5 ft | High tide 5:33 pm · 2.5 ft | Low tide 11:44 pm · -2.4 ft | Coef. 94 | 86% | Major periods 1:18 am · 1:51 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 5:05 am · 6:20 pm | High tide 5:58 am · 2.0 ft | Low tide 12:00 pm · -2.0 ft | High tide 6:15 pm · 1.9 ft | — | Coef. 78 | 77% | Major periods 2:23 am · 2:55 pm | Low |
| Sat 31 | 5:04 am · 6:21 pm | Low tide 12:27 am · -1.9 ft | High tide 6:49 am · 1.6 ft | Low tide 12:51 pm · -1.4 ft | High tide 7:08 pm · 1.3 ft | Coef. 60 | 66% | Major periods 3:26 am · 3:56 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 5:03 am · 6:22 pm | Low tide 1:23 am · -1.4 ft | High tide 8:04 am · 1.1 ft | Low tide 2:09 pm · -0.8 ft | High tide 8:33 pm · 0.8 ft | Coef. 41 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:25 am · 4:53 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 5:02 am · 6:23 pm | Low tide 2:52 am · -1.0 ft | High tide 10:01 am · 1.0 ft | Low tide 4:32 pm · -0.7 ft | High tide 10:39 pm · 0.7 ft | Coef. 33 | 44% | Major periods 5:20 am · 5:45 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 5:01 am · 6:24 pm | Low tide 4:57 am · -1.0 ft | High tide 11:43 am · 1.3 ft | Low tide 6:19 pm · -1.0 ft | — | Coef. 39 | 33% | Major periods 6:10 am · 6:33 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above mean sea level. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Margate has no tide station nearby: its tide is calculated with the global FES2022 model, from the nearest model cells offshore (the first one 1.8 mi away). It may differ from the real tide by a few minutes and inches, and more with wind or storms. Heights are above mean sea level, not chart datum, so low tides are negative. Not for navigation.
Model attribution: FES2022 Tide was produced by LEGOS, NOVELTIS and CLS, funded by CNES, and distributed by AVISO (https://doi.org/10.24400/527896/a01-2024.004), AVISO licence (https://www.aviso.altimetry.fr/fileadmin/documents/data/License_Aviso.pdf). Modified by TidePlanet: constants interpolated from the nearest model cells offshore; heights above mean sea level.
The sea at Margate
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common2.8 ft
- Significant5.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest11 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 11 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 11 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces southeast and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 7.5 ft with a period of 8 s, from the southeast (moderate).
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 72.3 °F by Tuesday 3.
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 11:59 pm (local time).
Surf in Margate today
Surf today
Good- 4.1–6.3 ft surf at the shore, a good size with some punch
- 6.3 ft swell at 7 s from the southeast, short: weak, messy waves
- Almost no wind (2 mph): glassy water
- Falling tide (low tide at 10:39 am)
- Light: First light 4:41 am · sunrise 5:06 am · sunset 6:19 pm · last light 6:44 pm
- Tide: high 4:37 am (2.7 ft), low 10:39 am (-2.8 ft), high 4:54 pm (2.9 ft) and low 11:05 pm (-2.8 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 73.2 °F–74.3 °F: a rash guard or a neoprene top.
- Energy: 315 kJ · Medium power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 5:00 am to 9:00 am, has a good size and glassy water, though with a short-period swell. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm can also work, with a good size, though with a short-period swell.
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 Margate today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- Slack water around low tide (10:39 am): little current from 10:20 am to 11:00 am
- 5.4 ft swell at 6 s from the southeast: strong surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (6 mph)
- 1.7 mph current toward the south-southwest, strong (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: high tide 4:37 am (4:20–5:00 am), low tide 10:39 am (10:20–11:00 am), high tide 4:54 pm (4:30–5:10 pm) and low tide 11:05 pm (10:50–11:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 9.5 ft at 7 s) and rain (1.93 in) over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 73.2–74.3 °F: a 3 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:44 pm. Waning gibbous (93%), rising at 9:17 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:50 am to 11:30 am, combines slack water at low tide, light wind and the sun high, though with some swell and current. Also worth a look from 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm, with slack water at high tide and light wind, though with some swell and 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
- Trafalgar Marine Protected Area 7.8 mi
- Protea Banks Marine Protected Area 12 mi
- Protea Banks Southern Pinnacle. African Dive Adventures 0.9 mi
- South Coast Diving Co 4.5 mi
- Shark Diving Protea Banks | Dive In Adventure Tours | shelly beach 4.5 mi
- Diary of a DMT on Protea Banks - Aqua Planet Dive Centre and Charter 5.2 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 Margate
Now in Margate
- Low / high
- 59 / 74 °F
- Rain
- 0.04 in · 47%
- Clouds
- 5%
- Humidity
- 91%
- Dew pointDew point
- 59 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Moderate · 42
- 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). Over the next 48 hours: −0.12 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 | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Mainly clear | Clear sky | Clear |
| Temperature | 61° | 60° | 62° | 71° | 73° | 74° | 69° | 63° |
| Wind (mph) | 4 WSW | 4 WSW | 2 N | 5 ENE | 6 E | 8 E | 7 ENE | 3 NNE |
| Gusts | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 8 |
| Waves | 7.5 ft | 6.8 ft | 6.3 ft | 5.9 ft | 5.6 ft | 5.6 ft | 5.6 ft | 5.6 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 12:00 am 62° 2 N 5.6 ft
- 3:00 am 61° 2 NW 5.6 ft
- 6:00 am 63° 3 NNW 5.7 ft
- 9:00 am 73° 5 NE 5.6 ft
- 12:00 pm 76° 10 ENE 5.7 ft
- 3:00 pm 74° 11 ENE 5.8 ft
- 6:00 pm 69° 10 NE 5.8 ft
- 9:00 pm 66° 9 NE 5.6 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 59 / 74 °F | 9 mph ENE | 7.5 ft | 4:37 am · 4:54 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 60 / 76 °F | 11 mph NE | 5.8 ft | 5:15 am · 5:33 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 62 / 78 °F | 14 mph NE | 6.6 ft | 5:58 am · 6:15 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 63 / 80 °F | 13 mph NE | 6.9 ft | 6:49 am · 7:08 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 69 / 82 °F | 15 mph SSW | 6.6 ft | 8:04 am · 8:33 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 66 / 70 °F | 10 mph S | 5.2 ft | 10:01 am · 10:39 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 66 / 75 °F | 9 mph ENE | 4.8 ft | 11:43 am | |
| Wed 4 | 69 / 75 °F | 10 mph ENE | 4.1 ft | 12:11 am · 12:46 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 70 / 88 °F | 8 mph N | 7.2 ft | 1:07 am · 1:30 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 69 / 77 °F | 14 mph S | 6.9 ft | 1:49 am · 2:06 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 69 / 75 °F | 12 mph ENE | 4.5 ft | 2:25 am · 2:39 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 69 / 86 °F | 13 mph NE | 7.0 ft | 2:58 am · 3:09 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 71 / 82 °F | 9 mph S | 6.8 ft | 3:28 am · 3:38 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 64 / 86 °F | 19 mph SW | 9.8 ft | 3:57 am · 4:06 pm |
- Thu 29 Light drizzle 60° / 76° 5.8 ft
- Fri 30 Clear sky 62° / 78° 6.6 ft
- Sat 31 Light drizzle 63° / 80° 6.9 ft
- Sun 1 Light rain 69° / 82° 6.6 ft
- Mon 2 Heavy drizzle 66° / 70° 5.2 ft
- Tue 3 Drizzle 66° / 75° 4.8 ft
- Wed 4 Drizzle 69° / 75° 4.1 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 temperature today. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, normal rain and a slightly warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (75 °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 11:59 pm (local time).
The sun in Margate
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:11 am
- Full dark 7:14 pm
- Civil dawn 4:41 am
- Civil dusk 6:44 pm
- Solar noon 11:42 am (72° high)
- Daylight 13 h 12 min (+2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:46 pm
- Full dark 7:14 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,361,926 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Margate
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,471 mi away and looks 32′ 46″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:15–2:15 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 12:46–2:46 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 5:51–6:51 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 8:47–9:47 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 · 10:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 9:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 1:48 pmNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 4:54 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 Margate
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
Gentle slopeThe bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 0.3 mi from shore and 33 ft at 0.45 mi.
From the shoreline (600 ft from Margate) out to sea, heading southeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep0.3 mi
- 33 ft deep0.45 mi
- 66 ft deep0.75 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 0.3 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. Shore diving works here: 33 ft at 0.45 mi and 66 ft at 0.75 mi from shore.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves).
Source: NOAA ETOPO 2022 (CC0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near MargateTides nearby
All places in KwaZulu-Natal, A to Z (86) →Margate at a glance
- Town or city of about 34,407 people. Coordinates: 30.864° S, 30.371° E.
- It is 80 mi southwest of Durban, the main place in KwaZulu-Natal. The sun rises 1 min later and sets 4 min later than in Durban.
- Its coast faces southeast.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Manaba Beach (1.0 mi).
Questions about MargateQuestions
What time is high tide today in Margate?
Today in Margate there are high tides at 4:37 am (2.7 ft) and 4:54 pm (2.9 ft) and low tides at 10:39 am and 11:05 pm. Tide coefficient 104.
What time is sunset today in Margate?
At 6:19 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:44 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Margate?
At 5:05 am. First light comes at 4:10 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 93% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 9:03 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 12:15–2:15 am, Minor 5:51–6:51 am, Major 12:46–2:46 pm, Minor 8:47–9:47 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Margate?
Light drizzle, from 59 °F to 74 °F, with a light air from the north (2 mph) and a 47% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Margate?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.6 ft waves with a period of 8.8 s from the southeast. The water is 73.4 °F.
When is the best time to visit Margate?
The best time to visit Margate is from May to August: highs of 74 °F to 78 °F, about 3 rainy days a month and 7 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: global FES2022 model (AVISO/CNES), licensed AVISO; constants for this place computed by TidePlanet from the nearest model cells offshore. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).