Cowes tides today
- Tide now 6.6 ft ↑ rising · high 12:13 am (13.9 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 6:00–7:00 pm good day · 7/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 2.1 ft · 59 °F slight · 6.8 s from the west-southwest
- Wind · air 5 mph · 53 °F from the WSW, gusts 10 · partly cloudy
- Sun 6:50 am–4:47 pm 9 h 58 min of daylight
- Moon 92% · 5:36 pm waning gibbous · rises at 5:36 pm
- Diving tomorrow 11:50 am–12:30 pm good day · 7/10
Today in Cowes there is high tide at 11:51 am (14.2 ft) and low tides at 5:13 am and 5:34 pm. Tide coefficient 92. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 12:13 am. The sun rises at 6:50 am and sets at 4:47 pm: 9 h 58 min of daylight. The moon is 92% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:36 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:27 am to 2:27 am and from 12:59 pm to 2:59 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 2.1 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the west-southwest (5 mph). Partly cloudy, 53 °F.
Fishing in Cowes today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 5:34 pm
- Minor period 5:06–6:06 pm (moonrise)
- Sunset at 4:47 pm, golden hour from 4:00 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.32 inHg in 24 h), light offshore wind (11 mph) and some swell (2.6 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 92 (spring tides)
- A minor period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 4:30 pm to 5:20 pm, combines the 5:34 pm low tide, moonrise, sunset and some swell, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: thornback ray, small-spotted catshark, European plaice and common sole. October is one of the months when these are seen most: thornback ray and small-spotted catshark. What you can catch
Beach day in Cowes
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Calm for swimming: 3.2 ft waves
- Feels like 55 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate offshore wind (15 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- Water at 59 °F (cold)
- High tide at 11:51 am, coefficient 92: little sand left
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 3.2 ft
3.2 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 59 °F
Cold: ease in slowly.
- 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 5:13 am
Low tide at 5:13 am and 5:34 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 11:51 am. Coefficient 92 (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 Cowes
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- East Cowes Beach 0.7 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Showers
Excellent water quality 2025 season, Environment Agency
- Gurnard Beach 1.2 mi · W
- Restrooms
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, Environment Agency
- The Spit 2.7 mi · NW
- Restrooms
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, Environment Agency
- Calshot Beach 3.6 mi · N
- Restrooms
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, Environment Agency
- Hill Head Beach 4.7 mi · NE
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, Environment Agency
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: Environment Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full attribution.
Webcams near Cowes
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Cowes
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 5:13 am 2.1 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:51 am 14.2 ft · coef. 92
- ▼ Low tide 5:34 pm 2.0 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 3 h 22 min to high tide at 12:13 am.
Tide coefficient 92 for the 11:51 am high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 12.3 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 October 28 (14.2 ft) and the lowest, on March 21 (1.0 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 26 to 29 (coefficient 92, 12.1 ft range). The smallest, from October 19 to 20 (coefficient 34, 4.3 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 | 6:50 am · 4:47 pm | Low tide 5:13 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 11:51 am · 14.2 ft | Low tide 5:34 pm · 2.0 ft | — | Coef. 92 | 92% | Major periods 12:27 am · 12:59 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 6:52 am · 4:46 pm | High tide 12:13 am · 13.9 ft | Low tide 5:53 am · 2.4 ft | High tide 12:35 pm · 14.0 ft | Low tide 6:15 pm · 2.3 ft | Coef. 90 | 85% | Major periods 1:31 am · 2:03 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 6:53 am · 4:44 pm | High tide 1:02 am · 13.6 ft | Low tide 6:37 am · 3.1 ft | High tide 1:26 pm · 13.6 ft | Low tide 7:02 pm · 2.9 ft | Coef. 86 | 76% | Major periods 2:35 am · 3:07 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 6:55 am · 4:42 pm | High tide 2:01 am · 13.2 ft | Low tide 7:27 am · 4.1 ft | High tide 2:28 pm · 13.0 ft | Low tide 7:58 pm · 3.7 ft | Coef. 78 | 65% | Major periods 3:38 am · 4:08 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:57 am · 4:40 pm | High tide 3:37 am · 12.8 ft | Low tide 8:31 am · 5.1 ft | High tide 3:51 pm · 12.4 ft | Low tide 9:11 pm · 4.6 ft | Coef. 68 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:37 am · 5:05 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:58 am · 4:38 pm | High tide 4:54 am · 12.5 ft | Low tide 9:58 am · 5.7 ft | High tide 5:07 pm · 12.0 ft | Low tide 10:37 pm · 4.9 ft | Coef. 59 | 43% | Major periods 5:31 am · 5:56 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:00 am · 4:37 pm | High tide 6:04 am · 12.3 ft | Low tide 11:21 am · 5.8 ft | High tide 6:22 pm · 11.7 ft | Low tide 11:51 pm · 4.8 ft | Coef. 56 | 32% | Major periods 6:21 am · 6:44 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
Tides from the Cowes station (Environment Agency), 0.1 mi from Cowes. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: This uses Environment Agency flood and river level data from the real-time data API (Beta): Cowes (E15040), https://environment.data.gov.uk/flood-monitoring/id/stations/E15040. 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 measured tidal levels of 2025-10-29 to 2026-10-22 (356 days).
The sea at Cowes
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.1 ft
- Significant2.1 ft
- Highest expectedHighest4.4 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 4.4 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 4.4 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats 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: 3.2 ft with a period of 6 s, from the west-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 58.0 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+1.0 °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 8:52 pm (local time).
Nearest marine station
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO), National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes (NNRCMP), via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Diving in Cowes today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: fair- Tidal current running: mid-tide, the water is moving
- 1.8 ft swell at 7 s from the southwest: some surge on the bottom
- Moderate offshore wind (14 mph): it pushes surface swimmers away from shore
- 0.2 mph current toward the south, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 5:13 am (4:58–5:28 am), high tide 11:51 am (11:36 am–12:10 pm), low tide 5:34 pm (5:19–5:49 pm) and high tide 12:13 am (11:58 pm–12:30 am)
- Likely visibility: fair. Swell (up to 2.7 ft at 7 s) and rain (0.48 in) over the last few days have stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 59.0 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 5:22 pm. Waning gibbous (92%), rising at 5:36 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 10:30 am to 11:30 am, combines weak current and the sun high, though with tidal current and 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
- Algerian 1.8 mi
- Weston Maid 2.1 mi
- Luciston 2.6 mi
- Ps Ryde 2.8 mi
- Wreck 1.3 mi
- Wreck 1.4 mi
- Wreck 2.8 mi
- North Solent Nature Reserve 2.8 mi
- Keyhaven Marsh 12 mi
- Island Divers 0.3 mi
- Vectis Expeditions Ltd 0.8 mi
- Isle Of Wight Dolphins Bsac 807 2.9 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 Cowes
Now in Cowes
- Low / high
- 50 / 59 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 79%
- Humidity
- 92%
- Dew pointDew point
- 50 °F
- Visibility
- 17 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 34
- 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: +0.05 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 | Clear | Clear | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Partly cloudy |
| Temperature | 52° | 52° | 50° | 56° | 59° | 59° | 55° | 53° |
| Wind (mph) | 11 WSW | 11 WSW | 4 SW | 7 SW | 15 WSW | 11 WSW | 9 WSW | 5 WSW |
| Gusts | 21 | 23 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 10 |
| Waves | 3.1 ft | 2.9 ft | 3.0 ft | 3.2 ft | 3.1 ft | 2.8 ft | 2.4 ft | 2.1 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 53° 5 WSW 2.1 ft
- 12:00 am 50° 3 SW 1.8 ft
- 3:00 am 49° 4 S 1.6 ft
- 6:00 am 51° 3 SSW 1.4 ft
- 9:00 am 53° 3 ENE 1.2 ft
- 12:00 pm 59° 7 ESE 1.1 ft
- 3:00 pm 59° 6 ESE 1.1 ft
- 6:00 pm 54° 4 E 1.1 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 50 / 59 °F | 15 mph WSW | 3.2 ft | 11:51 am | |
| Thu 29 | 49 / 60 °F | 8 mph ESE | 1.8 ft | 12:13 am · 12:35 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 53 / 58 °F | 12 mph E | 1.4 ft | 1:02 am · 1:26 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 51 / 55 °F | 9 mph NE | 1.4 ft | 2:01 am · 2:28 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 49 / 54 °F | 9 mph NNE | 1.0 ft | 3:37 am · 3:51 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 48 / 54 °F | 14 mph NNE | 1.4 ft | 4:54 am · 5:07 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 48 / 56 °F | 14 mph NNE | 1.4 ft | 6:04 am · 6:22 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 49 / 53 °F | 12 mph NE | 2.1 ft | 7:34 am · 7:51 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 46 / 52 °F | 14 mph ENE | 2.1 ft | 8:59 am · 9:18 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 49 / 53 °F | 17 mph ENE | 1.4 ft | 10:03 am · 10:27 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 49 / 56 °F | 13 mph E | 5.1 ft | 10:58 am · 9:51 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 53 / 57 °F | 10 mph S | 2.6 ft | 10:09 am · 10:24 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 56 / 58 °F | 10 mph SSE | 3.3 ft | 10:40 am · 10:59 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 56 / 60 °F | 16 mph SW | 4.7 ft | 11:13 am · 11:34 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 49° / 60° 1.8 ft
- Fri 30 Partly cloudy 53° / 58° 1.4 ft
- Sat 31 Partly cloudy 51° / 55° 1.4 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 49° / 54° 1.0 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 48° / 54° 1.4 ft
- Tue 3 Partly cloudy 48° / 56° 1.4 ft
- Wed 4 Light drizzle 49° / 53° 2.1 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 The next few weeks look normal for the time of year. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+2.6 °F; normal high: 57 °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 8:52 pm (local time).
The sun in Cowes
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:37 am
- Full dark 6:00 pm
- Civil dawn 6:16 am
- Civil dusk 5:22 pm
- Solar noon 11:49 am (26° high)
- Daylight 9 h 58 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 4:00 pm
- Full dark 6:00 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,359,773 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Cowes
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
- 12:59–2:59 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:46–10:46 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 5:06–6:06 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 Cowes
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Trinity Landing 0.3 mi
- Fuel Jetty 0.5 mi
- Jetty 0.3 mi
- The Shrape Breakwater 0.3 mi
- Boat ramp 0.1 mi
- Boat ramp 0.2 mi
- Boat ramp 0.3 mi
- Cowes Yacht Haven 0.1 mi
- Shepards Wharf Marina 0.3 mi
- East Cowes Tackle 1.3 mi
- Cowes Bait and Tackle 1.4 mi
- Fuel dock 0.2 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
Very shallowVery shallow and flat: 3.1 mi from shore the water is still only about 16 ft deep.
From the shoreline (1.8 mi from Cowes) out to sea, heading east.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1.8 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 3.1 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 1.8 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: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 3.1 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
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
Egypt Point light 0.8 mi northwest
- Tower height
- 25 ft
- Built
- 1897
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near CowesTides nearby
- East Cowes0.5 mi
- Wootton3.6 mi
- Newport4.2 mi
- Lee-on-the-Solent5.0 mi
- Ryde6.3 mi
- Hamble-le-Rice6.8 mi
- Cranmore7.3 mi
- Beaulieu7.4 mi
- Gosport7.7 mi
- Fareham8.0 mi
Cowes at a glance
- Town or city of about 21,226 people. Coordinates: 50.763° N, 1.298° W.
- The nearest tide station, Cowes, is 0.1 mi to the northeast.
- Its coast faces east.
Questions about CowesQuestions
What time is high tide today in Cowes?
Today in Cowes there is high tide at 11:51 am (14.2 ft) and low tides at 5:13 am and 5:34 pm. Tide coefficient 92.
What time is sunset today in Cowes?
At 4:47 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:22 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Cowes?
At 6:52 am. First light comes at 5:39 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 9:46–10:46 am, Major 12:59–2:59 pm, Minor 5:06–6:06 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Cowes?
Overcast, from 50 °F to 59 °F, with a light breeze from the west-southwest (5 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Cowes?
Slight (Douglas 3): 2.1 ft waves with a period of 6.8 s from the west-southwest. The water is 59.0 °F.
When is the best time to visit Cowes?
The best time to visit Cowes is from July to August: highs of 71 °F, about 8 rainy days a month and 6 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: Cowes tidal level station of the Environment Agency (England). This uses Environment Agency flood and river level 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).