Rackwick tides today
- Tide now 4.8 ft ↓ falling · low 4:00 am (-5.0 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 9.8 ft · 54 °F rough · 10.0 s from the west-northwest
- Wind · air 14 mph · 53 °F from the WSW, gusts 31 · overcast
- Surf tomorrow 3.4–5.3 ft Good day · 6/10 · 1:00–5:00 pm
- Sun 7:21 am–4:32 pm 9 h 11 min of daylight
- Moon 92% · 4:30 pm waning gibbous · rises at 4:30 pm
Today in Rackwick there are high tides at 9:19 am (4.8 ft) and 9:41 pm (4.8 ft) and low tides at 3:18 am and 3:38 pm. Tide coefficient 101. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 4:00 am. The sun rises at 7:21 am and sets at 4:32 pm: 9 h 11 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 4:30 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:36 am to 2:36 am and from 1:07 pm to 3:07 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is rough, with 9.8 ft waves. There's a moderate breeze from the west-southwest (14 mph). Overcast, 53 °F.
Fishing in Rackwick today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 3:38 pm
- Minor period 4:00–5:00 pm (moonrise)
- Sunset at 4:32 pm, golden hour from 3:30 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.71 inHg in 24 h), fresh onshore wind (20 mph) and rough sea: 11 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 101 (big 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, 4:00 pm to 4:40 pm, combines the 3:38 pm low tide, moonrise and sunset, though with rising pressure, fresh wind and rough seas.
Species with the most records nearby: small-spotted catshark, haddock, European plaice and whiting. October is one of the months when these are seen most: Atlantic cod. What you can catch
Beach day in Rackwick
Is it a beach day?
- Low tide at 3:38 pm: more sand
- Cloudy (80% cloud cover)
- Feels like 44 °F: chilly for the beach
- Rain (0.09 in)
- Fresh onshore wind (24 mph): blowing sand
- Dangerous for swimming: 11 ft waves every 10 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 10 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 54 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 24 mph
Fresh onshore wind (24 mph): blowing sand.
- Tide & sand 3:18 am
Low tide at 3:18 am and 3:38 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 9:19 am and 9:41 pm. Coefficient 101 (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 Rackwick
We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of Rackwick.
Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Rackwick
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Rackwick
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 3:18 am -5.6 ft
- ▲ High tide 9:19 am 4.8 ft · coef. 101
- ▼ Low tide 3:38 pm -5.5 ft
- ▲ High tide 9:41 pm 4.8 ft · coef. 98
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 6 h 10 min to low tide at 4:00 am.
Tide coefficient 101 for the 9:19 am high tide and 98 for the 9:41 pm high tide. Big spring tides. The water rises and falls 10.4 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 14 (5.8 ft) and the lowest, on August 14 (-6.6 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 28 (coefficient 103, 10.9 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 25, 3.5 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 | 7:21 am · 4:32 pm | Low tide 3:18 am · -5.6 ft | High tide 9:19 am · 4.8 ft | Low tide 3:38 pm · -5.5 ft | High tide 9:41 pm · 4.8 ft | Coef. 101 | 92% | Major periods 12:36 am · 1:07 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:24 am · 4:30 pm | Low tide 4:00 am · -5.0 ft | High tide 10:01 am · 4.6 ft | Low tide 4:23 pm · -5.1 ft | High tide 10:32 pm · 4.2 ft | Coef. 94 | 85% | Major periods 1:39 am · 2:12 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:26 am · 4:27 pm | Low tide 4:45 am · -4.3 ft | High tide 10:49 am · 4.1 ft | Low tide 5:14 pm · -4.6 ft | High tide 11:30 pm · 3.4 ft | Coef. 82 | 76% | Major periods 2:44 am · 3:16 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:29 am · 4:25 pm | Low tide 5:36 am · -3.4 ft | High tide 11:46 am · 3.6 ft | Low tide 6:15 pm · -3.9 ft | — | Coef. 67 | 65% | Major periods 3:47 am · 4:17 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:31 am · 4:22 pm | High tide 12:41 am · 2.6 ft | Low tide 6:37 am · -2.5 ft | High tide 12:56 pm · 3.1 ft | Low tide 7:31 pm · -3.4 ft | Coef. 60 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:46 am · 5:13 pm | Low |
| Mon 2 | 7:33 am · 4:20 pm | High tide 2:02 am · 2.0 ft | Low tide 7:54 am · -2.0 ft | High tide 2:15 pm · 2.9 ft | Low tide 8:57 pm · -3.3 ft | Coef. 49 | 43% | Major periods 5:40 am · 6:05 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:36 am · 4:18 pm | High tide 3:26 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 9:19 am · -1.9 ft | High tide 3:31 pm · 3.0 ft | Low tide 10:15 pm · -3.6 ft | Coef. 50 | 32% | Major periods 6:29 am · 6:53 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
Rackwick 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 Rackwick
Sea stateSea state: rough
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common4.9 ft
- Significant9.8 ft
- Highest expectedHighest20 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 20 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 20 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-onshore wind. The coast faces west and the wind comes in from the sea at an angle: a bit more surf at the shore and drift along the coast, toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves ease over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 13 ft with a period of 11 s, from the west (rough).
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 (+1.4 °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 9:50 pm (local time).
Surf in Rackwick today
Surf today
Poor- 7.3–11 ft surf at the shore, big
- Big surf (11 ft): for experienced surfers
- 11 ft swell at 10 s from the west-northwest, a bit short
- Moderate onshore wind (13 mph): a bit of chop
- Rising tide (high tide at 9:19 am)
Big surf: for experienced surfers only. If in doubt, stay on the beach.
- Light: First light 6:39 am · sunrise 7:21 am · sunset 4:32 pm · last light 5:15 pm
- Tide: low 3:18 am (-5.6 ft), high 9:19 am (4.8 ft), low 3:38 pm (-5.5 ft) and high 9:41 pm (4.8 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 53.8 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 1,969 kJ · Very high power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 7:00 am to 9:00 am, has a good size, though with big surf and onshore wind. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm can also work, with a good size, though with big surf and onshore wind.
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 Rackwick today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- Slack water around high tide (9:19 am): little current from 8:50 am to 9:50 am
- Some tidal current
- 11 ft swell at 10 s from the west-northwest: heavy surge on the bottom
- Moderate onshore wind (13 mph)
- 1.3 mph current toward the east-southeast, strong (model)
- Daylight
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 3:18 am (3:00–3:33 am), high tide 9:19 am (8:50–9:50 am), low tide 3:38 pm (3:20–3:53 pm) and high tide 9:41 pm (9:10–10:10 pm)
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 13 ft at 10 s) and wind over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 53.8 °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 5:15 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 4:30 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 6:40 am to 9:40 am, lines up with slack water at high tide, though with tidal current, a big swell, moderate wind 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
- Gobernador 4.4 mi
- Tabarka (block ship) 4.5 mi
- F2 7.1 mi
- SMS Karlsruhe 7.2 mi
- Siherite 1.6 mi
- Inconnu 1.8 mi
- Strathelliot 4.4 mi
- Ross Puma 4.4 mi
- Dyle 4.4 mi
- Halton Charters 6.5 mi
- Scapa Scuba 6.7 mi
- Mv Huskyan & Divers Lodge 6.9 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.
Weather in Rackwick
Now in Rackwick
- Low / high
- 48 / 53 °F
- Rain
- 0.14 in · 100%
- Clouds
- 95%
- Humidity
- 86%
- Dew pointDew point
- 49 °F
- Visibility
- 17 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 28
- 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 (+0.05 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.25 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 | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Light rain | Light showers | Partly cloudy | Light showers | Overcast |
| Temperature | 48° | 49° | 49° | 50° | 52° | 53° | 53° | 53° |
| Wind (mph) | 22 SW | 19 SW | 13 SW | 17 SW | 23 WSW | 21 WSW | 17 WSW | 16 WSW |
| Gusts | 51 | 38 | 26 | 28 | 47 | 43 | 38 | 36 |
| Waves | 13 ft | 12 ft | 11 ft | 11 ft | 11 ft | 11 ft | 11 ft | 10 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 pm 53° 16 WSW 10 ft
- 12:00 am 53° 9 SW 9.1 ft
- 3:00 am 53° 7 SSW 8.2 ft
- 6:00 am 53° 7 S 7.3 ft
- 9:00 am 54° 7 S 6.4 ft
- 12:00 pm 57° 7 S 5.6 ft
- 3:00 pm 57° 6 SSE 5.0 ft
- 6:00 pm 54° 7 S 4.5 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 48 / 53 °F | 24 mph WSW | 13 ft | 9:19 am · 9:41 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 53 / 58 °F | 9 mph S | 9.1 ft | 10:01 am · 10:32 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 54 / 56 °F | 14 mph SSE | 4.7 ft | 10:49 am · 11:30 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 49 / 55 °F | 9 mph NW | 5.1 ft | 11:46 am | |
| Sun 1 | 49 / 52 °F | 13 mph W | 5.3 ft | 12:41 am · 12:56 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 50 / 53 °F | 13 mph WNW | 5.4 ft | 2:02 am · 2:15 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 46 / 51 °F | 6 mph W | 4.1 ft | 3:26 am · 3:31 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 46 / 50 °F | 12 mph SW | 5.8 ft | 4:41 am · 4:38 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 44 / 49 °F | 7 mph SSW | 5.1 ft | 5:37 am · 5:33 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 41 / 49 °F | 7 mph S | 3.2 ft | 6:21 am · 6:20 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 38 / 44 °F | 5 mph S | 2.8 ft | 6:57 am · 7:02 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 41 / 47 °F | 4 mph SSW | 3.4 ft | 7:31 am · 7:41 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 43 / 48 °F | 9 mph S | 3.5 ft | 8:04 am · 8:19 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 46 / 51 °F | 7 mph E | 4.1 ft | 8:37 am · 8:56 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 53° / 58° 9.1 ft
- Fri 30 Light rain 54° / 56° 4.7 ft
- Sat 31 Light rain 49° / 55° 5.1 ft
- Sun 1 Light showers 49° / 52° 5.3 ft
- Mon 2 Light showers 50° / 53° 5.4 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 46° / 51° 4.1 ft
- Wed 4 Light drizzle 46° / 50° 5.8 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 wind tomorrow. 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 (+1.9 °F; normal high: 51 °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 9:50 pm (local time).
The sun in Rackwick
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:51 am
- Full dark 6:02 pm
- Civil dawn 6:39 am
- Civil dusk 5:15 pm
- Solar noon 11:57 am (18° high)
- Daylight 9 h 11 min (−5 min)
- Evening golden hour 3:30 pm
- Full dark 6:02 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,359,631 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Rackwick
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,451 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:36–2:36 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:07–3:07 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:08 am–12:08 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 4:00–5:00 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 Rackwick
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Moaness Pier 4.0 mi
- Linburns Pier 6.6 mi
- Pole Star Pier 6.7 mi
- Sunderlands's Pier 6.9 mi
- South Pier 6.9 mi
- North Pier 7.0 mi
- Warehouse Pier 7.0 mi
- Longhope Pier 8.1 mi
- Boat ramp 3.4 mi
- Boat ramp 3.7 mi
- Boat ramp 6.4 mi
- Lyness Port 7.4 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
Drops off fastThe bottom drops off fast: the water is 33 ft deep just 400 ft from shore. It reaches 164 ft at 0.8 mi.
From the shoreline (1.7 mi from Rackwick) out to sea, heading west.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep290 ft
- 33 ft deep400 ft
- 66 ft deep600 ft
- 164 ft deep0.8 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 22 ft just 330 ft out. Good for casting from rocks, jetties or the beach itself; current and surf hit harder here.
- Swimming. The bottom drops quickly near the shore and you are soon out of your depth. Keep an eye on kids and weak swimmers.
- Diving. Shore diving works here: 33 ft at 400 ft and 66 ft at 600 ft from shore.
Right by the shore the bottom may drop even faster than shown.
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
Hoy Sound Low Light 5.4 mi northeast
- Light
- White light, on and off for equal times, every 3 s · Iso W 3s
- Range
- 12 nautical miles (14 mi)
- Light height
- 56 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 39 ft
- Built
- 1851
Other lighthouses nearby: Hoy Sound High Light (5.9 mi northeast).
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near RackwickTides nearby
- Stromness7.1 mi
- Saint Margaret's Hope16 mi
- Kirkwall17 mi
- Burwick17 mi
- Castletown19 mi
- Thurso20 mi
- Ackergill30 mi
- Staxigoe31 mi
- Wick32 mi
- Pierowall34 mi
Rackwick at a glance
- Town or city. Coordinates: 58.873° N, 3.386° W.
- It is 17 mi southwest of Kirkwall, the main place in Orkney. The sun rises 1 min later and sets 2 min later than in Kirkwall.
- Its coast faces west.
Questions about RackwickQuestions
What time is high tide today in Rackwick?
Today in Rackwick there are high tides at 9:19 am (4.8 ft) and 9:41 pm (4.8 ft) and low tides at 3:18 am and 3:38 pm. Tide coefficient 101.
What time is sunset today in Rackwick?
At 4:32 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:15 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Rackwick?
At 7:24 am. First light comes at 5:53 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 12:36–2:36 am, Minor 11:08 am–12:08 pm, Major 1:07–3:07 pm, Minor 4:00–5:00 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Rackwick?
Light showers, from 48 °F to 53 °F, with a moderate breeze from the west-southwest (14 mph) and a 100% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Rackwick?
Rough (Douglas 5): 9.8 ft waves with a period of 10.0 s from the west-northwest. The water is 53.8 °F.
When is the best time to visit Rackwick?
The best time to visit Rackwick is from June to August: highs of 56 °F to 60 °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: 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).