Gulf Shores tides today
- Tide now 2.0 ft ↓ falling · low 9:57 am (-0.2 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 9:00–11:00 am average day · 6/10
- Beach tomorrow 10:00 am–3:00 pm Good beach day · 8/10
- Waves · water 1.4 ft · 75 °F smooth · 4.2 s from the east-southeast
- Wind · air 9 mph · 60 °F from the NE, gusts 20 · overcast
- Sun 7:02 am–6:07 pm 11 h 5 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 8:03 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:03 pm
- Diving tomorrow 8:50–11:50 am great day · 10/10
Today in Gulf Shores there is high tide at 10:16 pm (2.2 ft) and low tide at 8:38 am. Tide coefficient 115. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 9:57 am. The sun rises at 7:02 am and sets at 6:07 pm: 11 h 5 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:03 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:28 am to 3:28 am and from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is smooth, with 1.4 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the northeast (9 mph). Overcast, 60 °F.
Fishing in Gulf Shores today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 8:38 am
- Minor period 9:24–10:24 am (moonset)
- Steady pressure (30.21 inHg), light offshore wind (7 mph) and calm sea (1.2 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 115 (big spring tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 7:40 am to 9:40 am, combines the 8:38 am low tide and moonset. Also good from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, with a major period and a light onshore breeze. Also good from 9:20 pm to 11:20 pm, with the 10:16 pm high tide.
Species with the most records nearby: spot, Atlantic croaker, southern flounder and striped mullet. What you can catch
Beach day in Gulf Shores
Is it a beach day?
8 good hoursRip current risk today: moderate · tomorrow: moderate (NWS)
Dangerous rip currents are possible: swim only near a lifeguard and follow the flags. If one pulls you out, swim parallel to the shore.
- Sunny
- Feels like 79 °F: pleasant
- Cross-shore breeze (9 mph)
- UV 6 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 75 °F (nice)
- Calm for swimming: 1.5 ft waves; moderate rip current risk (NWS)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 1.5 ft
1.5 ft waves: calm for swimming. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 75 °F
Nice for swimming.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 6 · SPF 30
Max UV 6 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 9 mph
Cross-shore breeze (9 mph).
- Tide & sand 8:38 am
Low tide at 8:38 am: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:16 pm.
The best window, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, brings sunshine, pleasant temperatures, little wind and water at 75 °F.
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 Gulf Shores
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- 6th Street Beach Access 0.0 mi · SE
- Lifeguard
- Parking
- Gulf Shores Public Beach 0.3 mi · W
- Lifeguard
- Restrooms
- Parking
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for Alabama (Coastal Alabama Beach Monitoring Program).
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 Gulf Shores
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Gulf Shores
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 8:38 am -0.1 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:16 pm 2.2 ft · coef. 115
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 9 h 57 min to low tide at 9:57 am.
Tide coefficient 115 for the 10:16 pm high tide. Big spring tides. The water rises and falls 2.3 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 (2.2 ft) and the lowest, on January 2 (-1.0 ft).
Diurnal: one high and one low tide a day most days.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month come from October 28 to 29 (coefficient 115, 2.3 ft range). The smallest, on October 8 (coefficient 21, 0.5 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 | 7:02 am · 6:07 pm | Low tide 8:38 am · -0.1 ft | High tide 10:16 pm · 2.2 ft | — | — | Coef. 115 | 91% | Major periods 1:28 am · 2:00 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:03 am · 6:06 pm | Low tide 9:57 am · -0.2 ft | High tide 11:06 pm · 2.2 ft | — | — | Coef. 115 | 83% | Major periods 2:32 am · 3:04 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:04 am · 6:05 pm | Low tide 11:20 am · -0.1 ft | High tide 11:58 pm · 2.1 ft | — | — | Coef. 109 | 74% | Major periods 3:36 am · 4:08 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:04 am · 6:04 pm | Low tide 12:35 pm · -0.1 ft | — | — | — | Coef. 106 | 63% | Major periods 4:38 am · 5:08 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:05 am · 5:03 pm | High tide 12:53 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 12:27 pm · 0.1 ft | — | — | Coef. 96 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:36 am · 5:03 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:06 am · 5:02 pm | High tide 12:49 am · 1.6 ft | Low tide 1:02 pm · 0.3 ft | — | — | Coef. 77 | 40% | Major periods 5:29 am · 5:54 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:07 am · 5:02 pm | High tide 1:38 am · 1.3 ft | Low tide 12:53 pm · 0.6 ft | High tide 7:36 pm · 0.9 ft | Low tide 9:44 pm · 0.9 ft | Coef. 52 | 30% | Major periods 6:18 am · 6:41 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. 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 Gulf State Park Pier station (NOAA), 1.9 mi from Gulf Shores. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Gulf Shores
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.7 ft
- Significant1.4 ft
- Highest expectedHighest2.9 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 2.9 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 2.9 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces south 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 build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Tuesday 3: 3.0 ft with a period of 5 s, from the east-southeast (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water warms over the next few days: about 75.9 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water about normal for late October.
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 12:00 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 42012, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Surf in Gulf Shores today
Surf today
Poor- 0.9–1.4 ft surf at the shore, small: good for learning or a longboard
- 1.3 ft swell at 4 s from the southeast, short: weak, messy waves
- Almost no wind (3 mph): glassy water
- Rising tide (high tide at 10:16 pm)
Rip current risk today: moderate · tomorrow: moderate (NWS)
Dangerous rip currents are possible: swim only near a lifeguard and follow the flags. If one pulls you out, swim parallel to the shore.
Surf height from the NWS, today: 1.0–2.0 ft
- Light: First light 6:37 am · sunrise 7:02 am · sunset 6:07 pm · last light 6:31 pm
- Tide: low 8:38 am (-0.1 ft) and high 10:16 pm (2.2 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 74.5 °F: a rash guard or a neoprene top.
- Energy: 4 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 3:00 pm to 6:31 pm, has glassy water, though with small waves and a short-period swell.
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.
Diving in Gulf Shores today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around low tide (8:38 am): little current from 7:40 am to 9:40 am
- 1.1 ft swell at 4 s from the southeast: barely any surge
- Light offshore wind (7 mph)
- 0.4 mph current toward the west, weak (model)
- Daylight
- Slack water today: low tide 8:38 am (7:40–9:40 am) and high tide 10:16 pm (9:50–10:40 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 74.5 °F: a 3 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:31 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 8:03 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 7:30 am to 10:30 am, combines slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind and weak 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
- Wreck 6.5 mi
- Wreck 8.3 mi
- Wreck 12 mi
- Eco 13-W14 3.0 mi
- Eco 13-W15 3.0 mi
- Eco 13-W17 3.1 mi
- Eco 13-W16 3.1 mi
- Eco 16-W01 3.1 mi
- Pmid Cluster 13-W27 3.2 mi
- Pmid Cluster 13-W31 3.2 mi
- Down Under Dive Shop 1.3 mi
- Aes Dives Alabama 6.8 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). US wrecks: NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC), a U.S. Government work; not for navigation. Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in Gulf Shores
Now in Gulf Shores
- Low / high
- 56 / 79 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 90%
- Humidity
- 64%
- Dew pointDew point
- 48 °F
- Visibility
- 17 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 37
- Saharan dust
- No
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). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. 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 | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Mainly clear |
| Temperature | 58° | 56° | 57° | 64° | 77° | 79° | 75° | 63° |
| Wind (mph) | 5 NNW | 5 NE | 7 NE | 7 NE | 9 E | 6 ESE | 5 WNW | 6 NNE |
| Gusts | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 |
| Waves | 1.1 ft | 1.0 ft | 1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.5 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.3 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 |
- 12:00 am 60° 9 NE 1.4 ft
- 3:00 am 59° 9 NE 1.4 ft
- 6:00 am 58° 8 NE 1.4 ft
- 9:00 am 66° 9 ENE 1.5 ft
- 12:00 pm 75° 10 E 1.4 ft
- 3:00 pm 77° 4 SE 1.4 ft
- 6:00 pm 74° 2 NE 1.2 ft
- 9:00 pm 67° 2 NE 1.1 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 56 / 79 °F | 9 mph NE | 1.5 ft | 10:16 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 58 / 78 °F | 11 mph ENE | 1.5 ft | 11:06 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 63 / 79 °F | 11 mph ENE | 2.0 ft | 11:58 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 66 / 78 °F | 13 mph E | 2.0 ft | — | |
| Sun 1 | 65 / 77 °F | 13 mph ENE | 2.4 ft | 12:53 am | |
| Mon 2 | 62 / 77 °F | 13 mph ENE | 2.2 ft | 12:49 am | |
| Tue 3 | 64 / 78 °F | 14 mph ESE | 3.0 ft | 1:38 am · 7:36 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 62 / 77 °F | 14 mph SSE | 3.1 ft | 6:19 am · 7:02 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 58 / 74 °F | 11 mph WSW | 3.7 ft | 7:55 am · 6:56 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 53 / 71 °F | 9 mph WNW | 2.3 ft | 6:38 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 51 / 71 °F | 7 mph N | 2.1 ft | 6:22 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 51 / 71 °F | 8 mph N | 1.3 ft | 6:42 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 51 / 72 °F | 6 mph NNE | 0.9 ft | 7:12 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 57 / 73 °F | 5 mph NE | 0.7 ft | 7:47 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 58° / 78° 1.5 ft
- Fri 30 Overcast 63° / 79° 2.0 ft
- Sat 31 Light drizzle 66° / 78° 2.0 ft
- Sun 1 Showers 65° / 77° 2.4 ft
- Mon 2 Light drizzle 62° / 77° 2.2 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 64° / 78° 3.0 ft
- Wed 4 Light showers 62° / 77° 3.1 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.
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+3.1 °F; normal high: 76 °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 12:00 am (local time).
The sun in Gulf Shores
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:09 am
- Full dark 6:59 pm
- Civil dawn 6:37 am
- Civil dusk 6:31 pm
- Solar noon 12:35 pm (46° high)
- Daylight 11 h 5 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:34 pm
- Full dark 6:59 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,353,912 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Gulf Shores
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:28–3:28 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:00–4:00 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:24–10:24 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:33–8:33 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 · 2:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 1:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 5:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 8:54 amNov 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 Gulf Shores
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Paddle Boats 5.8 mi
- Four Seasons Pier 7.4 mi
- Waterfront Park Pier 8.2 mi
- Grander 8.8 mi
- Boat ramp 0.1 mi
- Boat ramp 0.2 mi
- Boat ramp 0.3 mi
- Boat ramp 0.3 mi
- Marina 2.4 mi
- Marina 2.6 mi
- Little Lagoon Fishing 1.5 mi
- Hooked Up Bait & Tackle 2.1 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
Gentle slopeThe bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 1,050 ft from shore and 33 ft at 0.85 mi.
From the shoreline out to sea, heading south.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1,050 ft
- 33 ft deep0.85 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 1,050 ft): 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 0.85 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Source: NOAA U.S. Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 300 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near Gulf ShoresTides nearby
- Oyster Bay3.7 mi
- Orange Beach8.3 mi
- Miflin10 mi
- Perdido Beach13 mi
- Lillian20 mi
- Point Clear20 mi
- Battles Wharf22 mi
- Fairhope23 mi
- Seacliff24 mi
- Dauphin Island24 mi
Gulf Shores at a glance
- Town or city of about 11,131 people. Coordinates: 30.246° N, 87.701° W.
- It is 37 mi southeast of Mobile, the main place in Alabama. The sun rises 2 min earlier and sets 1 min earlier than in Mobile.
- The nearest tide station, Gulf State Park Pier, is 1.9 mi to the east.
- Its coast faces south.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Homeport Marina (2.6 mi), Perdido Beach (Baldwin County) (3.8 mi).
Questions about Gulf ShoresQuestions
What time is high tide today in Gulf Shores?
Today in Gulf Shores there is high tide at 10:16 pm (2.2 ft) and low tide at 8:38 am. Tide coefficient 115.
What time is sunset today in Gulf Shores?
At 6:07 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:31 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Gulf Shores?
At 7:03 am. First light comes at 6:10 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 1:03 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 1:28–3:28 am, Minor 9:24–10:24 am, Major 2:00–4:00 pm, Minor 7:33–8:33 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Gulf Shores?
Overcast, from 56 °F to 79 °F, with a gentle breeze from the northeast (9 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Gulf Shores?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 1.4 ft waves with a period of 4.2 s from the east-southeast. The water is 74.7 °F.
When is the best time to visit Gulf Shores?
The best time to visit Gulf Shores is from October to November and from March to May: highs of 71 °F to 83 °F, about 8 rainy days a month and 7 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: NOAA station Gulf State Park Pier (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).