Carrickfergus tides today
- Tide now 6.2 ft ↑ rising · high 12:26 am (11.6 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 6:40–7:40 am average day · 6/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 0.7 ft · 56 °F smooth · 5.0 s from the west
- Wind · air 4 mph · 52 °F from the S, gusts 9 · overcast
- Sun 7:18 am–4:55 pm 9 h 37 min of daylight
- Moon 92% · 5:25 pm waning gibbous · rises at 5:25 pm
- Diving tomorrow 11:40 am–12:30 pm great day · 9/10
Today in Carrickfergus there is high tide at 12:04 pm (11.7 ft) and low tides at 5:54 am and 6:10 pm. Tide coefficient 85. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 12:26 am. The sun rises at 7:18 am and sets at 4:55 pm: 9 h 37 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:25 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:46 am to 2:46 am and from 1:17 pm to 3:17 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is smooth, with 0.7 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the south (4 mph). Overcast, 52 °F.
Fishing in Carrickfergus today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 6:10 pm
- Minor period 4:55–5:55 pm (moonrise)
- Sunset at 4:55 pm, golden hour from 4:02 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.41 inHg in 24 h), light offshore wind (6 mph) and calm sea (0.9 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 85 (average tides)
- A minor period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 4:50 pm to 5:50 pm, combines the 6:10 pm low tide, moonrise and sunset, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: small-spotted catshark, whiting, European plaice and haddock. October is one of the months when these are seen most: haddock and Atlantic mackerel. What you can catch
Beach day in Carrickfergus
Is it a beach day?
- Calm for swimming: 1.4 ft waves
- Cloudy (96% cloud cover)
- Feels like 53 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate offshore wind (13 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- Water at 56 °F (very cold)
- High tide at 12:04 pm
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 1.4 ft
1.4 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 56 °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 offshore wind (13 mph). Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 5:54 am
Low tide at 5:54 am and 6:10 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 12:04 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 Carrickfergus
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- jordanstown beach 3.8 mi · SW
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Helen's Bay 4.0 mi · SE
Excellent water quality 2025 season, DAERA
- Crawfordsburn Beach 4.6 mi · SE
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, DAERA
- Seapark Beach 4.6 mi · S
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Newtownabbey Bay (Hazelbank) Beach 5.2 mi · SW
- Parking
- Brompton Bay 5.8 mi · SE
- Parking
Good water quality 2025 season, DAERA
- Skippingstone Beach 6.1 mi · SE
- Restrooms
- 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: DAERA. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full attribution.
Webcams near Carrickfergus
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Carrickfergus
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 5:54 am 2.1 ft
- ▲ High tide 12:04 pm 11.7 ft · coef. 85
- ▼ Low tide 6:10 pm 1.9 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 3 h 31 min to high tide at 12:26 am.
Tide coefficient 85 for the 12:04 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 9.7 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: an average 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, Wed 28 | 7:18 am · 4:55 pm | Low tide 5:54 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 12:04 pm · 11.7 ft | Low tide 6:10 pm · 1.9 ft | — | Coef. 85 | 92% | Major periods 12:46 am · 1:17 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:20 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 1:49 am · 2:22 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:22 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 2:54 am · 3:26 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:24 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 3:57 am · 4:27 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:26 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 4:56 am · 5:23 pm | Low |
| Mon 2 | 7:28 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 5:50 am · 6:15 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:30 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 6:39 am · 7:03 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
Carrickfergus has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Bangor (Environment Agency), 6.4 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 Carrickfergus
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.4 ft
- Significant0.7 ft
- Highest expectedHighest1.5 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 1.5 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 1.5 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces east 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: 2.4 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 warmer than normal for late October (+1.2 °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 8:55 pm (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).
Diving in Carrickfergus today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (12:04 pm): little current from 11:40 am to 12:30 pm
- 0.5 ft swell at 7 s from the northwest: barely any surge
- Light offshore wind (11 mph)
- 1.5 mph current toward the north, strong (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 11:40 pm (11:10 pm–12:10 am), low tide 5:54 am (5:30–6:10 am), high tide 12:04 pm (11:40 am–12:30 pm) and low tide 6:10 pm (5:50–6:30 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 55.9 °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 5:33 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 5:25 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:10 am to 12:30 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind and the sun high, though with current. Also worth a look from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with 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
- Bellatrix 3.1 mi
- Normanby Hall 3.3 mi
- HMS Jewel 4.2 mi
- Graphic 5.2 mi
- Troutpool 5.4 mi
- Chirripo 6.1 mi
- Hmt Rose II 6.5 mi
- Wreck 4.5 mi
- Wreck 4.7 mi
- DiveClub Northern Ireland 6.4 mi
- Dive Belfast SAC 8.3 mi
- Barracuda Sub Aqua Club 9.4 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 Carrickfergus
Now in Carrickfergus
- Low / high
- 48 / 57 °F
- Rain
- 0.01 in · 84%
- Clouds
- 89%
- Humidity
- 94%
- Dew pointDew point
- 50 °F
- Visibility
- 9.4 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 26
- 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: +0.15 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 | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 48° | 51° | 52° | 54° | 56° | 56° | 54° | 52° |
| Wind (mph) | 13 SSW | 17 SSW | 10 SW | 12 SW | 11 WSW | 9 SW | 5 SSW | 4 S |
| Gusts | 27 | 34 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 9 |
| Waves | 1.7 ft | 1.8 ft | 1.6 ft | 1.2 ft | 1.2 ft | 1.0 ft | 0.8 ft | 0.7 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 |
- 9:00 pm 52° 4 S 0.7 ft
- 12:00 am 51° 4 S 0.7 ft
- 3:00 am 50° 3 S 0.7 ft
- 6:00 am 49° 3 SSE 0.7 ft
- 9:00 am 52° 5 S 0.9 ft
- 12:00 pm 58° 10 S 1.2 ft
- 3:00 pm 57° 11 SSE 1.7 ft
- 6:00 pm 55° 10 SSE 2.1 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 48 / 57 °F | 17 mph SW | 1.8 ft | 12:04 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 49 / 58 °F | 12 mph SSE | 2.1 ft | 12:26 am · 12:48 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 54 / 57 °F | 15 mph SSE | 2.4 ft | 1:17 am · 1:37 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 53 / 57 °F | 6 mph S | 1.1 ft | 2:13 am · 2:32 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 47 / 54 °F | 8 mph NNW | 1.5 ft | 3:16 am · 3:34 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 46 / 53 °F | 6 mph NE | 1.4 ft | 4:29 am · 4:45 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 46 / 50 °F | 2 mph E | 0.6 ft | 5:50 am · 6:01 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 47 / 52 °F | 7 mph E | 1.0 ft | 7:08 am · 7:12 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 50 / 52 °F | 13 mph SE | 2.0 ft | 8:12 am · 8:14 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 51 / 52 °F | 16 mph SE | 2.1 ft | 9:03 am · 9:05 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 47 / 52 °F | 15 mph SE | 3.0 ft | 9:43 am · 9:48 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 42 / 51 °F | 14 mph ESE | 2.0 ft | 10:17 am · 10:27 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 51 / 54 °F | 14 mph ESE | 2.8 ft | 10:48 am · 11:03 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 53 / 54 °F | 11 mph E | 1.9 ft | 11:19 am · 11:39 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 49° / 58° 2.1 ft
- Fri 30 Overcast 54° / 57° 2.4 ft
- Sat 31 Light rain 53° / 57° 1.1 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 47° / 54° 1.5 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 46° / 53° 1.4 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 46° / 50° 0.6 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 47° / 52° 1.0 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 (+4.0 °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 8:55 pm (local time).
The sun in Carrickfergus
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:58 am
- Full dark 6:15 pm
- Civil dawn 6:40 am
- Civil dusk 5:33 pm
- Solar noon 12:07 pm (22° high)
- Daylight 9 h 37 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 4:02 pm
- Full dark 6:15 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,359,467 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Carrickfergus
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,451 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:46–2:46 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:17–3:17 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:34–11:34 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 4:55–5:55 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 Carrickfergus
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Jetty 0.3 mi
- Fisherman's Quay 0.4 mi
- Jetty 0.6 mi
- Jetty 1.6 mi
- Boat ramp 0.2 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 1.1 mi
- Carrickfergus Marina 0.5 mi
- Marina 3.9 mi
- Woodford Fly Fishery 0.9 mi
- The Bait and Tackle Hut 2.3 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 3 mi out for 33 ft of water.
From the shoreline (700 ft from Carrickfergus) out to sea, heading east.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep2.2 mi
- 33 ft deep3 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 2.2 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 3 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. 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
Blackhead Lighthouse 5.8 mi northeast
- Light
- A white flash every 3 s · Fl W 3s
- Range
- 27 nautical miles (31 mi)
- Light height
- 148 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 52 ft
- Built
- 1902
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near CarrickfergusTides nearby
- Kilroot2.2 mi
- Greenisland2.9 mi
- Jordanstown4.4 mi
- Whitehead4.7 mi
- Whiteabbey5.0 mi
- Holywood5.4 mi
- Newtownabbey5.6 mi
- Bangor6.7 mi
- Larne9.3 mi
- Belfast9.5 mi
Carrickfergus at a glance
- Town or city of about 29,208 people. Coordinates: 54.716° N, 5.806° W.
- It is 9.3 mi south of Larne, the main place in Mid and East Antrim. The sun rises at the same time and sets at the same time than in Larne.
- The nearest tide station, Bangor, is 6.4 mi to the southeast.
- Its coast faces east.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Helen's Bay (4.1 mi).
Questions about CarrickfergusQuestions
What time is high tide today in Carrickfergus?
Today in Carrickfergus there is high tide at 12:04 pm (11.7 ft) and low tides at 5:54 am and 6:10 pm. Tide coefficient 85.
What time is sunset today in Carrickfergus?
At 4:55 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:33 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Carrickfergus?
At 7:20 am. First light comes at 6:00 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 12:46–2:46 am, Minor 10:34–11:34 am, Major 1:17–3:17 pm, Minor 4:55–5:55 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Carrickfergus?
Light rain, from 48 °F to 57 °F, with a light breeze from the south (4 mph) and a 84% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Carrickfergus?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 0.7 ft waves with a period of 5.0 s from the west. The water is 55.9 °F.
When is the best time to visit Carrickfergus?
The best time to visit Carrickfergus is from June to August: highs of 64 °F to 66 °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).