Scalloway tides today
- Tide now 1.7 ft ↑ rising · high 10:54 pm (1.8 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 4:10–5:00 pm great day · 9/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 7.9 ft · 53 °F moderate · 9.7 s from the west
- Wind · air 19 mph · 52 °F from the WSW, gusts 29 · overcast
- Sun 7:17 am–4:19 pm 9 h 2 min of daylight
- Moon 92% · 4:02 pm waning gibbous · rises at 4:02 pm
- Diving tomorrow 10:10–11:50 am fair day · 4/10
Today in Scalloway there are high tides at 10:23 am (1.9 ft) and 10:54 pm (1.8 ft) and low tides at 4:04 am and 4:23 pm. Tide coefficient 99. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 10:54 pm. The sun rises at 7:17 am and sets at 4:19 pm: 9 h 2 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 4:02 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:27 am to 2:27 am and from 12:58 pm to 2:58 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 7.9 ft waves. There's a fresh breeze from the west-southwest (19 mph). Overcast, 52 °F.
Fishing in Scalloway today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 4:23 pm
- Minor period 3:32–4:32 pm (moonrise)
- Sunset at 4:19 pm, golden hour from 3:14 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.76 inHg in 24 h), strong onshore wind (25 mph) and rough sea: 8.7 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 99 (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, 3:20 pm to 5:00 pm, combines the 4:23 pm low tide, moonrise and sunset, though with rising pressure, strong wind and rough seas. Also worth a try from 9:20 am to 11:20 am, with the 10:23 am high tide and moonset, though with rising pressure, fresh wind and rough seas.
Species with the most records nearby: haddock, whiting, European plaice and Atlantic cod. October is one of the months when these are seen most: European plaice and Atlantic mackerel. What you can catch
Beach day in Scalloway
Is it a beach day?
- Low tide at 4:23 pm: more sand
- Cloudy (77% cloud cover)
- Feels like 40 °F: chilly for the beach
- Rain (0.04 in)
- Strong onshore wind (24 mph): blowing sand
- Dangerous for swimming: 11 ft waves every 11 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 11 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 53 °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
Strong onshore wind (24 mph): blowing sand.
- Tide & sand 4:04 am
Low tide at 4:04 am and 4:23 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:23 am and 10:54 pm. Coefficient 99 (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 Scalloway
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Ministers' Beach 0.1 mi · SW
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Meal Beach 3.1 mi · SW
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Bain's Beach 4.8 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Reawick beach 5.5 mi · NW
- Banna Minn Beach 6.0 mi · SW
- 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 Scalloway
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Scalloway
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:04 am -2.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:23 am 1.9 ft · coef. 99
- ▼ Low tide 4:23 pm -2.1 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 10:54 pm 1.8 ft · coef. 96
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 59 min to high tide at 10:54 pm.
Tide coefficient 99 for the 10:23 am high tide and 96 for the 10:54 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 4.0 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 July 17 (2.5 ft) and the lowest, on August 14 (-2.6 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
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 101, 4.2 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 27, 1.3 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 | 7:17 am · 4:19 pm | Low tide 4:04 am · -2.0 ft | High tide 10:23 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 4:23 pm · -2.1 ft | High tide 10:54 pm · 1.8 ft | Coef. 99 | 92% | Major periods 12:27 am · 12:58 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:20 am · 4:17 pm | Low tide 4:42 am · -1.7 ft | High tide 11:02 am · 1.8 ft | Low tide 5:09 pm · -2.0 ft | High tide 11:48 pm · 1.6 ft | Coef. 92 | 85% | Major periods 1:31 am · 2:03 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:23 am · 4:14 pm | Low tide 5:22 am · -1.4 ft | High tide 11:48 am · 1.7 ft | Low tide 6:01 pm · -1.8 ft | — | Coef. 80 | 76% | Major periods 2:35 am · 3:07 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:25 am · 4:11 pm | High tide 12:50 am · 1.2 ft | Low tide 6:07 am · -1.1 ft | High tide 12:44 pm · 1.6 ft | Low tide 7:08 pm · -1.5 ft | Coef. 73 | 65% | Major periods 3:38 am · 4:08 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:28 am · 4:09 pm | High tide 2:06 am · 0.9 ft | Low tide 6:59 am · -0.8 ft | High tide 1:55 pm · 1.5 ft | Low tide 8:47 pm · -1.4 ft | Coef. 60 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:37 am · 5:05 pm | Low |
| Mon 2 | 7:30 am · 4:06 pm | High tide 3:32 am · 0.6 ft | Low tide 8:17 am · -0.6 ft | High tide 3:20 pm · 1.4 ft | Low tide 10:22 pm · -1.5 ft | Coef. 50 | 43% | Major periods 5:31 am · 5:56 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:33 am · 4:03 pm | High tide 4:55 am · 0.6 ft | Low tide 10:12 am · -0.6 ft | High tide 4:42 pm · 1.4 ft | Low tide 11:31 pm · -1.7 ft | Coef. 52 | 32% | Major periods 6:20 am · 6:44 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
Scalloway has no tide station nearby: its tide is calculated with the global FES2022 model, from the nearest model cells offshore (the first one 2.0 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 Scalloway
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common4.0 ft
- Significant7.9 ft
- Highest expectedHighest16 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 16 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 16 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Onshore wind. The coast faces southwest and the wind blows straight in from the sea: more surf and backwash at the shore, and bait and boats drift 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-southwest (very 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 (+2.3 °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 9:55 pm (local time).
Diving in Scalloway today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- Slack water around high tide (10:23 am): little current from 9:50 am to 10:50 am
- 9.3 ft swell at 10 s from the west: heavy surge on the bottom
- Fresh onshore wind (23 mph)
- 0.6 mph current toward the east (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: low tide 4:04 am (3:49–4:20 am), high tide 10:23 am (9:50–10:50 am), low tide 4:23 pm (4:08–4:40 pm) and high tide 10:54 pm (10:20–11:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 12 ft at 11 s), rain (0.28 in) and wind over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 53.2 °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 5:04 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 4:02 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 8:30 am to 11:30 am, combines slack water at high tide and the sun high, though with a big swell, fresh 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
- Quiet Waters 2.9 mi
- Pionersk 3.6 mi
- Samba 4.2 mi
- Gwladmena 4.6 mi
- Glenisla 4.9 mi
- Girdleness 5.0 mi
- Miss Lucy 11 5.5 mi
- Lunohods-1 5.5 mi
- Sea Mist 6.7 mi
- Valkyrie 6.8 mi
- Borodinskoye Polye 7.4 mi
- Ocean Kimetics 4.3 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 Scalloway
Now in Scalloway
- Low / high
- 48 / 52 °F
- Rain
- 0.12 in · 100%
- Clouds
- 84%
- Humidity
- 90%
- Dew pointDew point
- 49 °F
- Visibility
- 13 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 30
- 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 (+0.06 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.37 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 | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Overcast |
| Temperature | 48° | 48° | 48° | 49° | 51° | 50° | 51° | 52° |
| Wind (mph) | 32 SW | 30 SW | 25 SW | 23 WSW | 24 WSW | 24 WSW | 21 WSW | 19 WSW |
| Gusts | 51 | 47 | 40 | 34 | 36 | 36 | 32 | 31 |
| Waves | 13 ft | 12 ft | 11 ft | 10 ft | 9.3 ft | 8.7 ft | 8.7 ft | 8.1 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 pm 52° 19 WSW 8.1 ft
- 12:00 am 52° 20 WSW 7.6 ft
- 3:00 am 52° 18 WSW 7.0 ft
- 6:00 am 53° 17 WSW 6.4 ft
- 9:00 am 53° 13 SW 5.8 ft
- 12:00 pm 54° 13 SSW 5.3 ft
- 3:00 pm 54° 8 SSW 4.8 ft
- 6:00 pm 52° 7 S 4.3 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 48 / 52 °F | 32 mph WSW | 13 ft | 10:23 am · 10:54 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 51 / 54 °F | 20 mph SW | 7.6 ft | 11:02 am · 11:48 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 50 / 54 °F | 22 mph S | 5.5 ft | 11:48 am | |
| Sat 31 | 50 / 54 °F | 10 mph W | 5.8 ft | 12:50 am · 12:44 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 46 / 49 °F | 14 mph NW | 4.3 ft | 2:06 am · 1:55 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 46 / 50 °F | 10 mph NW | 4.7 ft | 3:32 am · 3:20 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 48 / 51 °F | 9 mph W | 3.5 ft | 4:55 am · 4:42 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 49 / 52 °F | 10 mph WSW | 5.4 ft | 6:02 am · 5:51 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 49 / 51 °F | 11 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 6:56 am · 6:48 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 44 / 49 °F | 7 mph SSW | 2.8 ft | 7:40 am · 7:37 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 46 / 50 °F | 10 mph SW | 4.2 ft | 8:18 am · 8:21 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 44 / 47 °F | 6 mph SSE | 3.2 ft | 8:53 am · 9:02 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 45 / 49 °F | 13 mph S | 4.4 ft | 9:25 am · 9:41 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 46 / 50 °F | 14 mph SE | 4.1 ft | 9:53 am · 10:17 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 51° / 54° 7.6 ft
- Fri 30 Light rain 50° / 54° 5.5 ft
- Sat 31 Light rain 50° / 54° 5.8 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 46° / 49° 4.3 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 46° / 50° 4.7 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 48° / 51° 3.5 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 49° / 52° 5.4 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 today. See the models →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (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 9:55 pm (local time).
The sun in Scalloway
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:44 am
- Full dark 5:53 pm
- Civil dawn 6:33 am
- Civil dusk 5:04 pm
- Solar noon 11:49 am (17° high)
- Daylight 9 h 2 min (−5 min)
- Evening golden hour 3:14 pm
- Full dark 5:53 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,359,775 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Scalloway
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,451 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:27–2:27 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 12:58–2:58 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:18 am–12:18 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 3:32–4:32 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 Scalloway
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Visitors Pier 0.4 mi
- North Jetty 4.8 mi
- Stot's Pier 4.9 mi
- Copeland's Pier 4.9 mi
- Boat ramp 0.1 mi
- Prince Olav Slipway 0.2 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 3.1 mi
- Marina 0.3 mi
- Marina 0.4 mi
- Ocean Tackle Store 4.1 mi
- Fuel dock 4.8 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 140 ft from shore.
From the shoreline (0.85 mi from Scalloway) out to sea, heading west.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep70 ft
- 33 ft deep140 ft
- 66 ft deep310 ft
- 164 ft deepnot within 2.5 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 70 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 140 ft and 66 ft at 310 ft from shore.
Inside bays, estuaries and harbors the bottom changes a lot from spot to spot (channels and shoals): use this only as a rough guide. There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 2.5 mi out. The profile is turned slightly from the coast so it does not run into an island or a headland. 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
Fugla Ness Lighthouse 3.3 mi southwest
- Light
- 2 flashes every 10 s; white, red or green depending on where you see it from · Fl(2) WRG 10s
- Range
- 10 nautical miles (12 mi)
- Light height
- 66 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 26 ft
Other lighthouses nearby: Bressay Lighthouse (5.5 mi east).
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near ScallowayTides nearby
All places in Shetland Islands, A to Z (253) →Scalloway at a glance
- Town or city of about 1,100 people. Coordinates: 60.138° N, 1.277° W.
- It is 4.7 mi west of Lerwick, the main place in Shetland Islands. The sun rises at the same time and sets 1 min later than in Lerwick.
- Its coast faces southwest.
Questions about ScallowayQuestions
What time is high tide today in Scalloway?
Today in Scalloway there are high tides at 10:23 am (1.9 ft) and 10:54 pm (1.8 ft) and low tides at 4:04 am and 4:23 pm. Tide coefficient 99.
What time is sunset today in Scalloway?
At 4:19 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:04 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Scalloway?
At 7:20 am. First light comes at 5:46 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 12:27–2:27 am, Minor 11:18 am–12:18 pm, Major 12:58–2:58 pm, Minor 3:32–4:32 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Scalloway?
Light showers, from 48 °F to 52 °F, with a fresh breeze from the west-southwest (19 mph) and a 100% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Scalloway?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 7.9 ft waves with a period of 9.7 s from the west. The water is 53.2 °F.
When is the best time to visit Scalloway?
The best time to visit Scalloway is from June to August: highs of 55 °F to 59 °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).