McDonald tides today
- Tide now 2.3 ft ↑ rising · high 3:50 am (4.0 ft)
- Best time to fish 3:00–4:50 am good day · 7/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 5.1 ft · 61 °F moderate · 9.1 s from the west-northwest
- Wind · air 4 mph · 50 °F from the NNE, gusts 4 · overcast
- Surf today 2.5–3.8 ft Fair day · 5/10 · 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- Sun 7:35 am–6:15 pm 10 h 41 min of daylight
- Moon 83% · 9:07 pm waning gibbous · rises at 9:07 pm
- Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. Until 5:00 pm tomorrow. NWS San Francisco CA
Today in McDonald there are high tides at 3:50 am (4.0 ft) and 2:19 pm (5.6 ft) and low tides at 8:46 am and 10:03 pm. Tide coefficient 78. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 3:50 am. The sun rises at 7:35 am and sets at 6:15 pm: 10 h 41 min of daylight. The moon is 83% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:07 pm. Major solunar periods run from 2:59 am to 4:59 am and from 3:31 pm to 5:31 pm. The next spring tides arrive from November 9 to 11. The sea is moderate, with 5.1 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the north-northeast (4 mph). Overcast, 50 °F.
Fishing in McDonald today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- High tide at 3:50 am, coefficient 78
- Major period 2:59–4:59 am
- Falling pressure (−0.10 inHg in 24 h), light offshore wind (6 mph) and some swell (4.9 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 78 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 3:00 am to 4:50 am, combines the 3:50 am high tide, a major period, falling pressure and some swell. Also good from 7:50 am to 9:50 am, with the 8:46 am low tide, sunrise, falling pressure and some swell. Also good from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, with the 2:19 pm high tide, a major period, falling pressure, a light onshore breeze and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: lingcod, market squid, Chinook salmon and coho salmon. October is one of the months when these are seen most: black rockfish. What you can catch
Beach day in McDonald
Is it a beach day?
- Onshore breeze (8 mph)
- UV 3 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Low tide at 8:46 am: more sand
- Cloudy (98% cloud cover)
- Feels like 64 °F: a bit cool
- Swim with care: 4.9 ft waves every 9 s; high rip current risk
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 4.9 ft
4.9 ft waves every 9 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. 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 61 °F
Cold: ease in slowly.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 3 · SPF 30
Max UV 3 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 8 mph
Onshore breeze (8 mph).
- Tide & sand 8:46 am
Low tide at 8:46 am and 10:03 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 3:50 am and 2:19 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 McDonald
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Elk Fence North Beach 1.2 mi · SW
- Elk Fence South Beach 1.3 mi · SW
- Tomales Beach 1.3 mi · SW
- Restrooms
- No Name Beach 1.5 mi · SW
- Pelican North Beach 1.5 mi · W
- Wall Beach 1.7 mi · W
- Marshall Beach 1.8 mi · S
- Restrooms
- Lairds Landing 2.0 mi · S
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for California (California State Water Resources Control Board).
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 McDonald
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in McDonald
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ Next high tide 3:50 am 4.0 ft · coef. 78
- ▼ Low tide 8:46 am 2.5 ft
- ▲ High tide 2:19 pm 5.6 ft · coef. 75
- ▼ Low tide 10:03 pm -0.7 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 2 h 47 min to high tide at 3:50 am.
Tide coefficient 78 for the 3:50 am high tide and 75 for the 2:19 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 6.3 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 December 24 (6.2 ft) and the lowest, on June 16 (-1.5 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
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 came from October 8 to 10 (coefficient 89, 5.2 ft range). The smallest, from October 17 to 18 (coefficient 40, 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, Thu 29 | 7:35 am · 6:15 pm | High tide 3:50 am · 4.0 ft | Low tide 8:46 am · 2.5 ft | High tide 2:19 pm · 5.6 ft | Low tide 10:03 pm · -0.7 ft | Coef. 78 | 83% | Major periods 2:59 am · 3:31 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:36 am · 6:14 pm | High tide 4:56 am · 4.0 ft | Low tide 9:46 am · 2.6 ft | High tide 3:14 pm · 5.4 ft | Low tide 11:05 pm · -0.5 ft | Coef. 71 | 73% | Major periods 4:03 am · 4:35 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:37 am · 6:13 pm | High tide 6:04 am · 4.0 ft | Low tide 11:04 am · 2.7 ft | High tide 4:20 pm · 5.0 ft | — | Coef. 65 | 62% | Major periods 5:05 am · 5:34 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:38 am · 5:12 pm | Low tide 12:12 am · -0.3 ft | High tide 6:08 am · 4.1 ft | Low tide 11:39 am · 2.5 ft | High tide 4:36 pm · 4.6 ft | Coef. 62 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:02 am · 5:29 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:39 am · 5:11 pm | Low tide 12:19 am · -0.1 ft | High tide 7:03 am · 4.3 ft | Low tide 1:06 pm · 2.1 ft | High tide 5:58 pm · 4.4 ft | Coef. 66 | 39% | Major periods 5:55 am · 6:19 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:40 am · 5:10 pm | Low tide 1:21 am · 0.1 ft | High tide 7:49 am · 4.6 ft | Low tide 2:16 pm · 1.6 ft | High tide 7:18 pm · 4.2 ft | Coef. 72 | 29% | Major periods 6:43 am · 7:06 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 6:41 am · 5:09 pm | Low tide 2:15 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 8:29 am · 4.8 ft | Low tide 3:13 pm · 1.0 ft | High tide 8:32 pm · 4.1 ft | Coef. 77 | 20% | Major periods 7:28 am · 7:51 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 Blakes Landing station (NOAA), 0.4 mi from McDonald. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the San Francisco (Golden Gate) reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at McDonald
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common2.6 ft
- Significant5.1 ft
- Highest expectedHighest10 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 10 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 10 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces west 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 Monday 2: 6.4 ft with a period of 16 s, from the west-northwest (moderate).
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 (+6.4 °F).
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 1:04 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 46237, courtesy of CDIP (Coastal Data Information Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), via the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Surf in McDonald today
Surf today
Fair- 2.5–3.8 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 3.9 ft swell at 6 s from the west-northwest, short: weak, messy waves
- Almost no wind (3 mph): glassy water
- Rising tide (high tide at 2:19 pm)
- Light: First light 7:08 am · sunrise 7:35 am · sunset 6:15 pm · last light 6:43 pm
- Tide: high 3:50 am (4.0 ft), low 8:46 am (2.5 ft), high 2:19 pm (5.6 ft) and low 10:03 pm (-0.7 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 60.6 °F: a 4/3 fullsuit.
- Energy: 92 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, has a good size and glassy water, though with a short-period swell. 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm can also work, with a good size, though with 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.
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 McDonald today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: fair- Slack water around high tide (2:19 pm): little current from 1:50 pm to 3:00 pm
- 3.9 ft swell at 6 s from the west-northwest: some surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (8 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the north, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 3:50 am (3:20–4:40 am), low tide 8:46 am (7:50–9:20 am), high tide 2:19 pm (1:50–3:00 pm) and low tide 10:03 pm (9:30–10:30 pm)
- Likely visibility: fair. Swell (up to 5.1 ft at 6 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 60.6 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:43 pm. Waning gibbous (83%), rising at 9:07 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 1:10 pm to 3:40 pm, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell. Also worth a look from 7:30 am to 9:40 am, with slack water at low tide, light wind and weak current, though with some swell.
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
- S.S. Point Reyes 7.0 mi
- Wreck 12 mi
- Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve 8.1 mi
- Point Reyes National Seashore 9.3 mi
- Bodega Head State Marine Conservation Area 11 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.
Weather in McDonald
Now in McDonald
- Low / high
- 48 / 68 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 2%
- Clouds
- 100%
- Humidity
- 63%
- Dew pointDew point
- 38 °F
- Visibility
- 17 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 43
- 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 (−0.02 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 | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 50° | 50° | 49° | 52° | 66° | 64° | 59° | 54° |
| Wind (mph) | 2 ENE | 4 NE | 2 N | 2 E | 1 ENE | 7 W | 5 WNW | 1 WNW |
| Gusts | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 3 |
| Waves | 5.2 ft | 4.9 ft | 4.7 ft | 4.7 ft | 4.9 ft | 4.7 ft | 4.6 ft | 4.6 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 |
- 3:00 am 50° 4 NE 4.9 ft
- 6:00 am 49° 2 N 4.7 ft
- 9:00 am 52° 2 E 4.7 ft
- 12:00 pm 66° 1 ENE 4.9 ft
- 3:00 pm 64° 7 W 4.7 ft
- 6:00 pm 59° 5 WNW 4.6 ft
- 9:00 pm 54° 1 WNW 4.6 ft
- 12:00 am 53° 1 NW 4.7 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 48 / 68 °F | 8 mph NNW | 5.2 ft | 3:50 am · 2:19 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 49 / 60 °F | 11 mph WNW | 4.7 ft | 4:56 am · 3:14 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 49 / 58 °F | 9 mph WNW | 3.9 ft | 6:04 am · 4:20 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 47 / 60 °F | 11 mph NW | 6.1 ft | 6:08 am · 4:36 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 47 / 63 °F | 6 mph NW | 6.4 ft | 7:03 am · 5:58 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 51 / 64 °F | 7 mph SE | 6.4 ft | 7:49 am · 7:18 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 51 / 62 °F | 8 mph WSW | 5.5 ft | 8:29 am · 8:32 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 51 / 62 °F | 10 mph WSW | 6.0 ft | 9:04 am · 9:37 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 52 / 59 °F | 11 mph WNW | 9.8 ft | 9:36 am · 10:37 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 52 / 59 °F | 8 mph NW | — | 10:06 am · 11:32 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 52 / 65 °F | 7 mph S | — | 10:35 am | |
| Mon 9 | 57 / 66 °F | 9 mph SE | — | 12:23 am · 11:03 am | |
| Tue 10 | 58 / 64 °F | 15 mph S | — | 1:12 am · 11:33 am | |
| Wed 11 | 62 / 65 °F | 20 mph SSW | — | 2:00 am · 12:04 pm |
- Fri 30 Overcast 49° / 60° 4.7 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 49° / 58° 3.9 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 47° / 60° 6.1 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 47° / 63° 6.4 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 51° / 64° 6.4 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 51° / 62° 5.5 ft
- Thu 5 Drizzle 51° / 62° 6.0 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.
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−2.5 °F; normal high: 70 °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 1:04 am (local time).
The sun in McDonald
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:36 am
- Full dark 7:14 pm
- Civil dawn 7:08 am
- Civil dusk 6:43 pm
- Solar noon 12:55 pm (38° high)
- Daylight 10 h 41 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:38 pm
- Full dark 7:14 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,327,315 mi away and looks 32′ 12″ across.
The moon in McDonald
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,837 mi away and looks 32′ 43″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 2:59–4:59 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 3:31–5:31 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:27 am–12:27 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 8:37–9:37 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 · 12:29 pmNov 1 in 3 days
- New moon Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pmNov 8 in 10 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 3:48 amNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 6:54 amNov 24 in 26 days
Next perigee (the moon at its closest to Earth): November 25, 223,281 mi away.
Where to fish in McDonald
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
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: even 2.3 mi from shore the water is less than 16 ft deep.
From the shoreline (1,050 ft from McDonald) out to sea, heading northwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Very shallow: the water doesn't reach 16 ft within 2.3 mi. Cast far from the beach, ideally around high tide.
- 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 2.3 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 2.3 mi out. The profile is turned slightly from the coast so it does not run into an island or a headland.
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 McDonaldTides nearby
- Marshall2.1 mi
- Marconi3.5 mi
- Dillon Beach5.3 mi
- Seahaven5.7 mi
- Inverness6.7 mi
- Point Reyes Station9.9 mi
- Bodega Bay13 mi
- Salmon Creek14 mi
- Carmet16 mi
- Sereno Del Mar16 mi
McDonald at a glance
- Town or city. Coordinates: 38.188° N, 122.909° W.
- It is 497 mi northwest of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises 31 min later and sets 15 min later than in San Diego.
- The nearest tide station, Blakes Landing, is 0.4 mi to the west.
- Its coast faces west.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Tomales Beach (1.3 mi), Marshall Beach (1.8 mi), McClures Beach (3.0 mi), Driftwood Beach (3.1 mi).
Questions about McDonaldQuestions
What time is high tide today in McDonald?
Today in McDonald there are high tides at 3:50 am (4.0 ft) and 2:19 pm (5.6 ft) and low tides at 8:46 am and 10:03 pm. Tide coefficient 78.
What time is sunset today in McDonald?
At 6:15 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:43 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in McDonald?
At 7:36 am. First light comes at 6:37 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 83% illuminated. New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm.
When are the next spring tides?
From November 9 to 11.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 2:59–4:59 am, Minor 11:27 am–12:27 pm, Major 3:31–5:31 pm, Minor 8:37–9:37 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in McDonald?
Overcast, from 48 °F to 68 °F, with a light breeze from the north-northeast (4 mph) and a 2% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in McDonald?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.1 ft waves with a period of 9.1 s from the west-northwest. The water is 60.8 °F.
When is the best time to visit McDonald?
The best time to visit McDonald is from June to September: highs of 73 °F to 77 °F, barely 1 rainy day a month and 10 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 Blakes Landing (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).