Kirkcaldy tides today
- Tide now 3.2 ft ↓ falling · low 9:28 pm (2.9 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 3:30–4:10 pm good day · 8/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 0.7 ft · 54 °F smooth · 2.4 s from the west-southwest
- Wind · air 8 mph · 51 °F from the WSW, gusts 17 · overcast
- Sun 7:11 am–4:41 pm 9 h 29 min of daylight
- Moon 92% · 5:01 pm waning gibbous · rises at 5:01 pm
- Diving tomorrow 9:00–11:00 am great day · 10/10
Today in Kirkcaldy there are high tides at 3:17 am (19.5 ft) and 3:44 pm (18.8 ft) and low tides at 9:08 am and 9:28 pm. Tide coefficient 96. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 9:28 pm. The sun rises at 7:11 am and sets at 4:41 pm: 9 h 29 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:01 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:35 am to 2:35 am and from 1:06 pm to 3:06 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is smooth, with 0.7 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the west-southwest (8 mph). Overcast, 51 °F.
Fishing in Kirkcaldy today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 3:44 pm, coefficient 95
- Minor period 4:31–5:31 pm (moonrise)
- Sunset at 4:41 pm, golden hour from 3:45 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.52 inHg in 24 h), moderate offshore wind (13 mph) and calm sea (1.0 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 96 (spring tides)
- A minor period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 3:40 pm to 4:40 pm, combines the 3:44 pm high tide, moonrise and sunset, though with rising pressure and moderate wind.
Species with the most records nearby: European flounder, small-spotted catshark, whiting and yellowfin tuna. October is one of the months when these are seen most: yellowfin tuna. What you can catch
Beach day in Kirkcaldy
Is it a beach day?
- Calm for swimming: 1.6 ft waves
- Low tide at 9:08 am: more sand
- Cloudy (79% cloud cover)
- Feels like 51 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate offshore wind (15 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- Water at 54 °F (very cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 1.6 ft
1.6 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 offshore wind (15 mph). Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 9:28 pm
Low tide at 9:08 am and 9:28 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 3:17 am and 3:44 pm. Coefficient 96 (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 Kirkcaldy
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Pathhead Sands 0.7 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Kirkcaldy Seafield Beach 1.5 mi · S
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, SEPA
- Kinghorn Beach 3.5 mi · S
- Restrooms
- Parking
Poor water quality 2025 season, SEPA
- Pettycur Beach 3.9 mi · S
- Restrooms
- Parking
Good water quality 2025 season, SEPA
- Burntisland Beach 4.4 mi · SW
- RNLI lifeguards in season
- Restrooms
- Parking
Sufficient water quality 2025 season, SEPA
- Old Beach 5.8 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).
UK bathing water quality: SEPA. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full attribution. Lifeguards: RNLI. Contains Open Data licensed under the GIS Open Data Licence.
Webcams near Kirkcaldy
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Kirkcaldy
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 3:17 am 19.5 ft · coef. 96
- ▼ Low tide 9:08 am 2.8 ft
- ▲ High tide 3:44 pm 18.8 ft · coef. 95
- ▼ Next low tide 9:28 pm 2.9 ft
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 35 min to low tide at 9:28 pm.
Tide coefficient 96 for the 3:17 am high tide and 95 for the 3:44 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 16.7 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 15 (20.1 ft) and the lowest, on August 14 (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 27 to 28 (coefficient 96, 16.8 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 32, 6.4 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 | 7:11 am · 4:41 pm | High tide 3:17 am · 19.5 ft | Low tide 9:08 am · 2.8 ft | High tide 3:44 pm · 18.8 ft | Low tide 9:28 pm · 2.9 ft | Coef. 96 | 92% | Major periods 12:35 am · 1:06 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:13 am · 4:38 pm | High tide 4:07 am · 19.1 ft | Low tide 9:46 am · 3.4 ft | High tide 4:33 pm · 18.5 ft | Low tide 10:09 pm · 3.2 ft | Coef. 93 | 85% | Major periods 1:38 am · 2:11 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:16 am · 4:36 pm | High tide 5:02 am · 18.5 ft | Low tide 10:28 am · 4.4 ft | High tide 5:26 pm · 18.0 ft | Low tide 10:56 pm · 3.9 ft | Coef. 85 | 76% | Major periods 2:43 am · 3:15 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:18 am · 4:34 pm | High tide 6:00 am · 17.8 ft | Low tide 11:19 am · 5.7 ft | High tide 6:21 pm · 17.4 ft | Low tide 11:55 pm · 4.8 ft | Coef. 75 | 65% | Major periods 3:46 am · 4:16 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:20 am · 4:32 pm | High tide 6:59 am · 17.0 ft | Low tide 12:28 pm · 7.1 ft | High tide 7:20 pm · 16.8 ft | — | Coef. 63 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:45 am · 5:12 pm | Low |
| Mon 2 | 7:22 am · 4:30 pm | Low tide 1:17 am · 5.6 ft | High tide 8:01 am · 16.3 ft | Low tide 2:03 pm · 7.8 ft | High tide 8:24 pm · 16.4 ft | Coef. 54 | 43% | Major periods 5:39 am · 6:04 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:24 am · 4:27 pm | Low tide 2:54 am · 5.8 ft | High tide 9:07 am · 15.8 ft | Low tide 3:31 pm · 7.7 ft | High tide 9:34 pm · 16.3 ft | Coef. 54 | 32% | Major periods 6:28 am · 6:52 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
Kirkcaldy has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Leith (Environment Agency), 8.8 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): Leith (E70824), https://environment.data.gov.uk/flood-monitoring/id/stations/E70824. 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 Kirkcaldy
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.4 ft
- Significant0.7 ft
- Highest expectedHighest1.6 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 1.6 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 1.6 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Offshore wind. The coast faces east 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: 1.9 ft with a period of 3 s, from the southwest (slight).
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 51.5 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+2.1 °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 8:53 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS), via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Diving in Kirkcaldy today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (3:44 pm): little current from 3:10 pm to 4:10 pm
- 0.2 ft swell at 3 s from the west-northwest: barely any surge
- Light offshore wind (12 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the south, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 3:17 am (2:40–3:40 am), low tide 9:08 am (8:40–9:40 am), high tide 3:44 pm (3:10–4:10 pm) and low tide 9:28 pm (9:00–10:00 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Wind over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 54.0 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 5:20 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 5:01 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also worth a look from 8:30 am to 10:10 am, with slack water at low tide, little swell, weak current and the sun high, though with 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
- Salvestria 4.6 mi
- HMS Saucy 5.6 mi
- HMS Campania 5.9 mi
- Grimsel 6.0 mi
- Royal Archer 6.1 mi
- Blessing of Burntisland 6.3 mi
- HMS Boy Andrew 6.4 mi
- Cosmo 6.4 mi
- Wreck 2.7 mi
- Divebunker 4.4 mi
- The Dive Bunker 4.8 mi
- Viewpoint Diving 6.1 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.
Weather in Kirkcaldy
Now in Kirkcaldy
- Low / high
- 48 / 56 °F
- Rain
- 0.05 in · 100%
- Clouds
- 98%
- Humidity
- 94%
- Dew pointDew point
- 50 °F
- Visibility
- 9.5 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 22
- Saharan dust
- No
- Pollen
- None
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising · now Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Rising now (+0.03 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.23 inHg. Rising pressure: anglers say fish bite less for a while. 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 | Light rain | Light rain | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 48° | 50° | 51° | 52° | 55° | 56° | 53° | 51° |
| Wind (mph) | 14 SW | 14 SSW | 16 WSW | 13 WSW | 16 WSW | 12 WSW | 10 WSW | 8 WSW |
| Gusts | 33 | 32 | 35 | 26 | 31 | 25 | 22 | 17 |
| Waves | 1.6 ft | 1.8 ft | 1.9 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.0 ft | 1.0 ft | 0.7 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.02 in | 0.02 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 pm 51° 8 WSW 0.7 ft
- 12:00 am 51° 8 WSW 0.5 ft
- 3:00 am 50° 6 WSW 0.4 ft
- 6:00 am 50° 7 WSW 0.3 ft
- 9:00 am 51° 3 SW 0.3 ft
- 12:00 pm 57° 4 SSW 0.2 ft
- 3:00 pm 58° 6 SW 0.1 ft
- 6:00 pm 54° 3 SW 0.1 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 48 / 56 °F | 16 mph WSW | 1.9 ft | 3:17 am · 3:44 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 49 / 58 °F | 9 mph SW | 0.5 ft | 4:07 am · 4:33 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 48 / 55 °F | 5 mph SSW | 0.3 ft | 5:02 am · 5:26 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 48 / 55 °F | 9 mph WSW | 0.1 ft | 6:00 am · 6:21 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 44 / 53 °F | 6 mph ENE | 0.7 ft | 6:59 am · 7:20 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 39 / 52 °F | 5 mph WNW | 0.7 ft | 8:01 am · 8:24 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 39 / 47 °F | 3 mph NW | 0.5 ft | 9:07 am · 9:34 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 37 / 44 °F | 3 mph WNW | 0.3 ft | 10:21 am · 10:48 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 37 / 43 °F | 2 mph NNW | 0.4 ft | 11:31 am · 11:53 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 40 / 45 °F | 3 mph N | 0.4 ft | 12:26 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 39 / 43 °F | 3 mph NW | — | 12:46 am · 1:10 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 38 / 45 °F | 3 mph NE | — | 1:30 am · 1:49 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 41 / 49 °F | 8 mph ENE | — | 2:10 am · 2:25 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 47 / 50 °F | 4 mph N | — | 2:48 am · 3:01 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 49° / 58° 0.5 ft
- Fri 30 Overcast 48° / 55° 0.3 ft
- Sat 31 Light rain 48° / 55° 0.1 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 44° / 53° 0.7 ft
- Mon 2 Fog 39° / 52° 0.7 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 39° / 47° 0.5 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 37° / 44° 0.3 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 today. 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 (+2.6 °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 8:53 pm (local time).
The sun in Kirkcaldy
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:48 am
- Full dark 6:04 pm
- Civil dawn 6:32 am
- Civil dusk 5:20 pm
- Solar noon 11:56 am (21° high)
- Daylight 9 h 29 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 3:45 pm
- Full dark 6:04 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,359,647 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Kirkcaldy
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,451 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:35–2:35 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:06–3:06 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:36–11:36 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 4:31–5:31 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 Kirkcaldy
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Jetty 1.8 mi
- Jetty 5.0 mi
- Jetty 5.2 mi
- East Bank 3.2 mi
- Boat ramp 1.5 mi
- Boat ramp 3.1 mi
- Boat ramp 3.2 mi
- Boat ramp 3.3 mi
- Boat ramp 3.4 mi
- Dysart Harbour 1.4 mi
- Outdoor Game & Tackle 1.4 mi
- Fishing Lures 5.1 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.
Water depth
Shallow, gradualShallow, gradual bottom: you need to go 1.8 mi out for 33 ft of water.
From the shoreline (0.65 mi from Kirkcaldy) out to sea, heading east.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1.2 mi
- 33 ft deep1.8 mi
- 66 ft deep3 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 1.2 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 1.8 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.
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
Inchkeith Lighthouse 5.8 mi south
- Light
- A white flash every 15 s · Fl W 15s
- Range
- 14 nautical miles (16 mi)
- Light height
- 220 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 62 ft
- Built
- 1804
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near KirkcaldyTides nearby
- Kinghorn3.4 mi
- Coaltown of Wemyss3.6 mi
- East Wemyss4.8 mi
- Burntisland5.0 mi
- Buckhaven6.2 mi
- Aberdour6.9 mi
- Methil7.1 mi
- Leven8.4 mi
- Ocean Terminal9.1 mi
- Dalgety Bay9.3 mi
Kirkcaldy at a glance
- Town or city of about 50,370 people. Coordinates: 56.117° N, 3.160° W.
- It is 12 mi east of Dunfermline, the main place in Fife. The sun rises 1 min earlier and sets 1 min earlier than in Dunfermline.
- The nearest tide station, Leith, is 8.8 mi to the south.
- Its coast faces east.
Questions about KirkcaldyQuestions
What time is high tide today in Kirkcaldy?
Today in Kirkcaldy there are high tides at 3:17 am (19.5 ft) and 3:44 pm (18.8 ft) and low tides at 9:08 am and 9:28 pm. Tide coefficient 96.
What time is sunset today in Kirkcaldy?
At 4:41 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:20 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Kirkcaldy?
At 7:13 am. First light comes at 5:50 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 12:35–2:35 am, Minor 10:36–11:36 am, Major 1:06–3:06 pm, Minor 4:31–5:31 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Kirkcaldy?
Light rain, from 48 °F to 56 °F, with a gentle breeze from the west-southwest (8 mph) and a 100% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Kirkcaldy?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 0.7 ft waves with a period of 2.4 s from the west-southwest. The water is 54.0 °F.
When is the best time to visit Kirkcaldy?
The best time to visit Kirkcaldy is from July to August: highs of 66 °F, about 11 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: Leith 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).