Portaferry tides today
- Tide now 11.4 ft ↓ falling · low 6:37 am (2.3 ft)
- Best time to fish 6:40–7:40 am good day · 7/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 0.6 ft · 54 °F smooth · 3.9 s from the south-southeast
- Wind · air 6 mph · 54 °F from the SSW, gusts 10 · overcast
- Sun 7:18 am–4:53 pm 9 h 35 min of daylight
- Moon 85% · 6:21 pm waning gibbous · rises at 6:21 pm
- Best time to dive 11:40 am–1:20 pm good day · 8/10
Today in Portaferry there are high tides at 12:26 am (11.6 ft) and 12:48 pm (11.8 ft) and low tides at 6:37 am and 6:58 pm. Tide coefficient 85. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 6:37 am. The sun rises at 7:18 am and sets at 4:53 pm: 9 h 35 min of daylight. The moon is 85% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 6:21 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:48 am to 3:48 am and from 2:21 pm to 4:21 pm. The next spring tides arrive from November 9 to 11. The sea is smooth, with 0.6 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the south-southwest (6 mph). Overcast, 54 °F.
Fishing in Portaferry today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 6:37 am
- Sunrise at 7:18 am
- Rising pressure (+0.27 inHg in 24 h), light onshore wind (6 mph) and calm sea (0.7 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 85 (average tides)
- A major period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 6:40 am to 7:40 am, combines the 6:37 am low tide, sunrise and a light onshore breeze, though with rising pressure. Also worth a try from 6:00 pm to 6:50 pm, with the 6:58 pm low tide, moonrise and some swell, though with moderate wind. Also worth a try from 11:50 am to 12:50 pm, with the 12:48 pm high tide and moonset, though with rising pressure and moderate wind.
Species with the most records nearby: whiting, European plaice, haddock and small-spotted catshark. October is one of the months when these are seen most: haddock and Atlantic mackerel. What you can catch
Beach day in Portaferry
Is it a beach day?
- Calm for swimming: 1.8 ft waves
- Cloudy (92% cloud cover)
- Feels like 53 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate onshore wind (15 mph): choppy water
- Water at 54 °F (very cold)
- High tide at 12:48 pm
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 1.8 ft
1.8 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low 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 15 mph
Moderate onshore wind (15 mph).
- Tide & sand 6:37 am
Low tide at 6:37 am and 6:58 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 12:26 am and 12:48 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 Portaferry
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Kilclief Beach 3.1 mi · S
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, DAERA
- Mill Quarter Beach 4.2 mi · S
- Parking
- Cloughey Beach 5.1 mi · NE
Excellent water quality 2025 season, DAERA
- Gilpin Harbour 6.1 mi · S
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).
UK bathing water quality: DAERA. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full attribution.
Webcams near Portaferry
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Portaferry
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 12:26 am 11.6 ft · coef. 85
- ▼ Next low tide 6:37 am 2.3 ft
- ▲ High tide 12:48 pm 11.8 ft · coef. 84
- ▼ Low tide 6:58 pm 1.9 ft
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 5 h 32 min to low tide at 6:37 am.
Tide coefficient 85 for the 12:26 am high tide and 84 for the 12:48 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 9.9 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 December 27 (12.6 ft) and the lowest, on July 17 (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 9 to 11 (coefficient 86, 10.4 ft range). The smallest, from October 19 to 20 (coefficient 43, 5.5 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 | 7:18 am · 4:53 pm | High tide 12:26 am · 11.6 ft | Low tide 6:37 am · 2.3 ft | High tide 12:48 pm · 11.8 ft | Low tide 6:58 pm · 1.9 ft | Coef. 85 | 85% | Major periods 1:48 am · 2:21 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:20 am · 4:51 pm | High tide 1:17 am · 11.4 ft | Low tide 7:24 am · 2.7 ft | High tide 1:37 pm · 11.7 ft | Low tide 7:52 pm · 2.0 ft | Coef. 82 | 76% | Major periods 2:53 am · 3:25 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:22 am · 4:49 pm | High tide 2:13 am · 11.0 ft | Low tide 8:16 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 2:32 pm · 11.6 ft | Low tide 8:52 pm · 2.2 ft | Coef. 78 | 65% | Major periods 3:56 am · 4:26 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:24 am · 4:47 pm | High tide 3:16 am · 10.5 ft | Low tide 9:17 am · 3.7 ft | High tide 3:34 pm · 11.3 ft | Low tide 10:02 pm · 2.5 ft | Coef. 71 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:55 am · 5:22 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 7:26 am · 4:45 pm | High tide 4:29 am · 10.0 ft | Low tide 10:32 am · 4.0 ft | High tide 4:45 pm · 10.9 ft | Low tide 11:23 pm · 2.5 ft | Coef. 65 | 43% | Major periods 5:49 am · 6:14 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:28 am · 4:43 pm | High tide 5:50 am · 9.6 ft | Low tide 11:57 am · 4.0 ft | High tide 6:01 pm · 10.8 ft | — | Coef. 62 | 32% | Major periods 6:38 am · 7:02 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 7:30 am · 4:41 pm | Low tide 12:42 am · 2.4 ft | High tide 7:08 am · 9.7 ft | Low tide 1:12 pm · 3.6 ft | High tide 7:12 pm · 10.8 ft | Coef. 67 | 23% | Major periods 7:24 am · 7:47 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
Portaferry has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Bangor (Environment Agency), 20 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: This uses Environment Agency tide gauge data from the real-time data API (Beta): Bangor (E73824), https://environment.data.gov.uk/flood-monitoring/id/stations/E73824. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/). Modified: harmonic constants fitted by TidePlanet from the 15-minute sea levels of 2025-10-29 to 2026-10-22 (356 days).
The sea at Portaferry
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.3 ft
- Significant0.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest1.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 1.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 1.2 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces southeast 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: 2.6 ft with a period of 4 s, from the south-southeast (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 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 1:05 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from Met Eireann, Commissioners of Irish Lights, via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Surf in Portaferry today
Surf today
Flat- Barely any waves (0.9 ft sets): flat
- Light onshore wind (6 mph): a bit of chop
- Rising tide (high tide at 12:48 pm)
It’s flat today: almost no waves reach this coast.
- Light: First light 6:40 am · sunrise 7:18 am · sunset 4:53 pm · last light 5:31 pm
- Tide: high 12:26 am (11.6 ft), low 6:37 am (2.3 ft), high 12:48 pm (11.8 ft) and low 6:58 pm (1.9 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 54.1 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 1 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window is 7:00 am to 11:00 am, though with barely any waves.
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 Portaferry today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (12:48 pm): little current from 12:20 pm to 1:10 pm
- 0.3 ft swell at 5 s from the south-southeast: barely any surge
- Moderate onshore wind (14 mph)
- 0.8 mph current toward the north-northeast (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 12:26 am (12:00–12:50 am), low tide 6:37 am (6:20–7:00 am), high tide 12:48 pm (12:20–1:10 pm) and low tide 6:58 pm (6:40–7:20 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 54.1 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 5:31 pm. Waning gibbous (85%), rising at 6:21 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:40 am to 1:20 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell and the sun high, though with moderate wind and current. Also worth a look from 6:40 am to 8:40 am, with slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind and weak current, though with tidal 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
- RIP Fish seen: Sand Goby, Painted Goby, Fries's goby, grey gurnard 3.8 mi
- Hadd Rock2 Fish seen: Painted Goby, Sand Goby, Pholis gunnellus, poor cod 5.1 mi
- James Rock Fish seen: Sand Goby, Painted Goby, Black Goby, Blenny 5.3 mi
- Long Sheelagh Fish seen: Painted Goby 5.3 mi
- Empire Tana 1.3 mi
- Dunmore 3.9 mi
- Arantzazu Mendi 4.2 mi
- Tornamona 4.5 mi
- Georgetown Victory (part Of) 5.0 mi
- Wreck 2.0 mi
- Cloughy Rocks nature reserve 1.7 mi
- Killard ASSI 4.9 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
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. Sites and fish: Reef Life Survey / IMOS NRMN, CC BY 4.0; fish names, Wikidata.
Weather in Portaferry
Now in Portaferry
- Low / high
- 53 / 57 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 18%
- Clouds
- 90%
- Humidity
- 91%
- Dew pointDew point
- 51 °F
- Visibility
- 13 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: +0.17 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 | Overcast | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Overcast |
| Temperature | 54° | 53° | 53° | 55° | 57° | 56° | 56° | 56° |
| Wind (mph) | 6 SSW | 7 S | 6 S | 7 S | 15 S | 14 SSE | 15 SSE | 16 SSE |
| Gusts | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 28 |
| Waves | 0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.7 ft | 1.3 ft | 1.8 ft | 1.9 ft | 1.9 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 |
- 3:00 am 53° 7 S 0.6 ft
- 6:00 am 53° 6 S 0.7 ft
- 9:00 am 55° 7 S 0.7 ft
- 12:00 pm 57° 15 S 1.3 ft
- 3:00 pm 56° 14 SSE 1.8 ft
- 6:00 pm 56° 15 SSE 1.9 ft
- 9:00 pm 56° 16 SSE 1.9 ft
- 12:00 am 56° 20 SSE 2.2 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 53 / 57 °F | 20 mph S | 2.1 ft | 12:26 am · 12:48 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 55 / 57 °F | 20 mph S | 2.6 ft | 1:17 am · 1:37 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 54 / 57 °F | 12 mph S | 1.2 ft | 2:13 am · 2:32 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 48 / 55 °F | 13 mph NNW | 1.4 ft | 3:16 am · 3:34 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 46 / 53 °F | 8 mph ENE | 0.7 ft | 4:29 am · 4:45 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 44 / 51 °F | 5 mph NE | 0.3 ft | 5:50 am · 6:01 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 49 / 52 °F | 9 mph E | 0.6 ft | 7:08 am · 7:12 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 51 / 53 °F | 13 mph ESE | 1.6 ft | 8:12 am · 8:14 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 50 / 53 °F | 17 mph SE | 2.2 ft | 9:03 am · 9:05 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 46 / 52 °F | 15 mph SE | 4.0 ft | 9:43 am · 9:48 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 43 / 52 °F | 12 mph E | 3.3 ft | 10:17 am · 10:27 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 51 / 55 °F | 13 mph ESE | 3.6 ft | 10:48 am · 11:03 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 53 / 55 °F | 12 mph E | 2.4 ft | 11:19 am · 11:39 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 52 / 55 °F | 16 mph SE | 3.8 ft | 11:52 am |
- Fri 30 Overcast 55° / 57° 2.6 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 54° / 57° 1.2 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 48° / 55° 1.4 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 46° / 53° 0.7 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 44° / 51° 0.3 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 49° / 52° 0.6 ft
- Thu 5 Overcast 51° / 53° 1.6 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 agree · high confidence for the next few days. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: normal temperatures, normal rain and a slightly warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+4.8 °F; normal high: 52 °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 1:05 am (local time).
The sun in Portaferry
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:58 am
- Full dark 6:12 pm
- Civil dawn 6:40 am
- Civil dusk 5:31 pm
- Solar noon 12:06 pm (22° high)
- Daylight 9 h 35 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 4:00 pm
- Full dark 6:12 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,335,178 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Portaferry
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,641 mi away and looks 32′ 45″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 1:48–3:48 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:21–4:21 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:50 am–12:50 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 5:51–6:51 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 3 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 amNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 11:48 amNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 2:54 pmNov 24 in 26 days
Next perigee (the moon at its closest to Earth): November 25, 223,281 mi away.
Where to fish in Portaferry
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Katherine Quay 0.6 mi
- Lough Cowey 2.2 mi
- Portaferry Slipway 0.1 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 0.5 mi
- The Slip 0.7 mi
- Boat ramp 1.1 mi
- Boat ramp 1.4 mi
- Boat ramp 2.3 mi
- Portaferry Marina 0.1 mi
- Phennick Cove Marina 8.6 mi
- Charles Mulhall 8.7 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.
Nearest lighthouse
Marine navigation Beacon 1.5 mi south
Other lighthouses nearby: Angus Rock Lighthouse (3.5 mi south).
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near PortaferryTides nearby
- Killyleagh4.4 mi
- Portavogie6.8 mi
- Kircubbin7.4 mi
- Ardglass8.5 mi
- Greyabbey11 mi
- Ballywalter11 mi
- Comber14 mi
- Dundrum15 mi
- Millisle16 mi
- Newtownards16 mi
Portaferry at a glance
- Town or city of about 2,525 people. Coordinates: 54.381° N, 5.546° W.
- It is 20 mi south of Bangor, the main place in Ards and North Down. The sun rises 1 min earlier and sets at the same time than in Bangor.
- The nearest tide station, Bangor, is 20 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces southeast.
Questions about PortaferryQuestions
What time is high tide today in Portaferry?
Today in Portaferry there are high tides at 12:26 am (11.6 ft) and 12:48 pm (11.8 ft) and low tides at 6:37 am and 6:58 pm. Tide coefficient 85.
What time is sunset today in Portaferry?
At 4:53 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:31 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Portaferry?
At 7:20 am. First light comes at 6:00 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 85% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From November 9 to 11.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:48–3:48 am, Minor 11:50 am–12:50 pm, Major 2:21–4:21 pm, Minor 5:51–6:51 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Portaferry?
Light rain, from 53 °F to 57 °F, with a light breeze from the south-southwest (6 mph) and a 18% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Portaferry?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 0.6 ft waves with a period of 3.9 s from the south-southeast. The water is 54.1 °F.
When is the best time to visit Portaferry?
The best time to visit Portaferry is from June to August: highs of 65 °F to 68 °F, about 12 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: Bangor tide gauge (UK National Tide Gauge Network). This uses Environment Agency tide gauge data from the real-time data API (Beta), under the Open Government Licence v3.0; constants fitted by TidePlanet from a year of its readings. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).