National City tides today
- Tide now 3.9 ft ↓ falling · low 6:05 pm (-0.6 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:30–6:30 pm good day · 7/10
- Beach day 3:00–6:00 pm Poor beach day · 4/10
- Waves · water 2.6 ft · 74 °F slight · 10.4 s from the west-southwest
- Wind · air 8 mph · 74 °F from the SW, gusts 9 · partly cloudy
- Sun 7:03 am–6:01 pm 10 h 58 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:58 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:58 pm
- Best time to dive 5:20–6:00 pm great day · 9/10
- Coastal Flood Warning: significant flooding along the shore at high tide. Until 1:00 pm tomorrow. NWS San Diego CA
- Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. From 1:00 pm tomorrow to Fri 30, 2:00 pm. NWS San Diego CA
Today in National City there is high tide at 10:34 am (7.2 ft) and low tides at 4:15 am and 6:05 pm. Tide coefficient 84. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 6:05 pm. The sun rises at 7:03 am and sets at 6:01 pm: 10 h 58 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:58 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:31 am to 3:31 am and from 2:02 pm to 4:02 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 2.6 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the southwest (8 mph). Partly cloudy, 74 °F.
Fishing in National City today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 6:05 pm
- Sunset at 6:01 pm, golden hour from 5:27 pm
- Steady pressure (29.94 inHg), light onshore wind (5 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: 84 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, combines the 6:05 pm low tide, sunset, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also good from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, with the 10:34 am high tide, moonset and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: kelp bass, barred sand bass, California halibut and striped mullet. What you can catch
Beach day in National City
Is it a beach day?
- Mostly sunny
- Feels like 72 °F: mild
- Onshore breeze (9 mph)
- Water at 74 °F (nice)
- Low tide at 6:05 pm: more sand
- Swim with care: 2.6 ft waves every 11 s; moderate rip current risk
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 2.6 ft
2.6 ft waves every 11 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 74 °F
Nice for swimming.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 9 mph
Onshore breeze (9 mph).
- Tide & sand 6:05 pm
Low tide at 4:15 am and 6:05 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:34 am.
The best window, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, brings sunshine, little wind, water at 74 °F and low tide at 6:05 pm, though with some waves. 10:00 am to 1:00 pm can also work, with sunshine, little wind and water at 74 °F, though with some waves.
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 National City
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Coronado Shores Beach 4.4 mi · W
- Parking
- Coronado Beach 5.1 mi · W
- Lifeguard
- Restrooms
- Parking
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 National City
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in National City
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:15 am 2.1 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:34 am 7.2 ft · coef. 84
- ▼ Next low tide 6:05 pm -0.6 ft
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 4 h 10 min to low tide at 6:05 pm.
Tide coefficient 84 for the 10:34 am high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 7.8 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 (7.8 ft) and the lowest, on January 3 (-1.9 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 9 (coefficient 104, 6.3 ft range). The smallest, on October 17 (coefficient 20, 3.7 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 | 7:03 am · 6:01 pm | Low tide 4:15 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 10:34 am · 7.2 ft | Low tide 6:05 pm · -0.6 ft | — | Coef. 84 | 91% | Major periods 1:31 am · 2:02 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:04 am · 6:00 pm | High tide 12:23 am · 4.1 ft | Low tide 4:51 am · 2.5 ft | High tide 11:19 am · 6.9 ft | Low tide 7:06 pm · -0.4 ft | Coef. 77 | 83% | Major periods 2:35 am · 3:07 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:04 am · 5:59 pm | High tide 1:40 am · 3.8 ft | Low tide 5:38 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 12:16 pm · 6.4 ft | Low tide 8:17 pm · -0.1 ft | Coef. 63 | 73% | Major periods 3:39 am · 4:11 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:05 am · 5:58 pm | High tide 3:14 am · 3.8 ft | Low tide 6:59 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 1:31 pm · 5.9 ft | Low tide 9:35 pm · 0.1 ft | Coef. 52 | 62% | Major periods 4:41 am · 5:10 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:06 am · 4:57 pm | High tide 3:46 am · 4.2 ft | Low tide 8:06 am · 3.3 ft | High tide 2:04 pm · 5.4 ft | Low tide 9:48 pm · 0.2 ft | Coef. 52 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:38 am · 5:05 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:07 am · 4:56 pm | High tide 4:40 am · 4.7 ft | Low tide 10:02 am · 2.8 ft | High tide 3:38 pm · 5.3 ft | Low tide 10:45 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 62 | 39% | Major periods 5:31 am · 5:55 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:08 am · 4:56 pm | High tide 5:19 am · 5.2 ft | Low tide 11:16 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 4:53 pm · 5.2 ft | Low tide 11:30 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 74 | 29% | Major periods 6:19 am · 6:42 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 National City station (NOAA), 1.4 mi from National City. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the San Diego (Broadway) reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at National City
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.3 ft
- Significant2.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest5.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 5.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 5.2 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 build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Sunday 1: 5.2 ft with a period of 8 s, from the south-southwest (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 (+8.7 °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 1:55 pm (local time).
Nearest marine station
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from stations LJPC1 and 46254, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Diving in National City today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (10:34 am): little current from 10:10 am to 10:50 am
- 1.7 ft swell at 8 s from the west-southwest: some surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (5 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the west, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 4:15 am (3:40–4:40 am), high tide 10:34 am (10:10–10:50 am), low tide 6:05 pm (5:40–6:30 pm) and high tide 12:23 am (11:50 pm–1:00 am)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 73.4 °F: a 3 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:26 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:58 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:40 am to 11:30 am, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 5:20 pm to 6:00 pm, with slack water at low tide, 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
- Pt Loma New Hope Rock Fish seen: Oxyjulis californica, Brachyistius frenatus, kelp bass, Embiotoca jacksoni 9.4 mi
- Pt Loma urchin feed line Fish seen: blacksmith chromis, barred sand bass, California Sheephead, kelp bass 9.4 mi
- Pt Loma cam 2 Fish seen: blacksmith chromis, California Sheephead, Sebastes atrovirens, kelp bass 9.4 mi
- SS Monte Carlo 4.3 mi
- Wreck 2.3 mi
- Wreck 5.6 mi
- Mission Bay Park 12 mi
- Silver Strand State Beach 5.1 mi
- San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge 5.4 mi
- San Diego Scuba Center 3.4 mi
- Baja Diving & Watersports, Llc. 6.5 mi
- San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions 7.5 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. Sites and fish: Reef Life Survey / IMOS NRMN, CC BY 4.0; fish names, Wikidata. Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in National City
Now in National City
- Low / high
- 60 / 74 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 63%
- Humidity
- 60%
- Dew pointDew point
- 59 °F
- Visibility
- 17 mi
- UV indexUV
- 4 · moderate
- Air qualityAir
- Moderate · 60
- 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 (+0.00 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 | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Overcast |
| Temperature | 62° | 61° | 62° | 66° | 73° | 73° | 69° | 68° |
| Wind (mph) | 4 ENE | 3 ENE | 4 NE | 4 ESE | 6 SW | 9 SW | 5 WSW | 2 N |
| Gusts | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| Waves | 2.6 ft | 2.6 ft | 2.7 ft | 2.7 ft | 2.6 ft | 2.6 ft | 2.6 ft | 2.6 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 pm 73° 9 SW 2.6 ft
- 6:00 pm 69° 5 WSW 2.6 ft
- 9:00 pm 68° 2 N 2.6 ft
- 12:00 am 64° 4 NE 2.6 ft
- 3:00 am 65° 4 ENE 2.5 ft
- 6:00 am 65° 3 E 2.4 ft
- 9:00 am 65° 3 SE 2.4 ft
- 12:00 pm 72° 6 SW 2.4 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 60 / 74 °F | 9 mph SSW | 2.7 ft | 10:34 am | |
| Thu 29 | 62 / 72 °F | 9 mph SW | 2.6 ft | 12:23 am · 11:19 am | |
| Fri 30 | 63 / 71 °F | 8 mph SW | 2.6 ft | 1:40 am · 12:16 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 61 / 70 °F | 9 mph SSE | 2.8 ft | 3:14 am · 1:31 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 63 / 69 °F | 15 mph S | 5.2 ft | 3:46 am · 2:04 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 60 / 74 °F | 8 mph N | 4.5 ft | 4:40 am · 3:38 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 60 / 74 °F | 8 mph NNW | 3.0 ft | 5:19 am · 4:53 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 60 / 74 °F | 9 mph NNW | 2.4 ft | 5:52 am · 5:54 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 60 / 73 °F | 8 mph NW | 2.2 ft | 6:23 am · 6:47 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 60 / 71 °F | 9 mph NW | 5.1 ft | 6:52 am · 7:35 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 59 / 71 °F | 9 mph WNW | 5.8 ft | 7:20 am · 8:18 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 59 / 77 °F | 7 mph NNW | 4.4 ft | 7:47 am · 8:59 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 60 / 81 °F | 3 mph NNE | 4.4 ft | 8:14 am · 9:40 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 59 / 83 °F | 4 mph E | 4.2 ft | 8:40 am · 10:24 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 62° / 72° 2.6 ft
- Fri 30 Light drizzle 63° / 71° 2.6 ft
- Sat 31 Heavy drizzle 61° / 70° 2.8 ft
- Sun 1 Rain 63° / 69° 5.2 ft
- Mon 2 Mainly clear 60° / 74° 4.5 ft
- Tue 3 Mainly clear 60° / 74° 3.0 ft
- Wed 4 Clear sky 60° / 74° 2.4 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 rain on Saturday 31. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: much warmer, much wetter and a much warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−3.6 °F; normal high: 77 °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 1:55 pm (local time).
The sun in National City
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:09 am
- Full dark 6:55 pm
- Civil dawn 6:38 am
- Civil dusk 6:26 pm
- Solar noon 12:32 pm (44° high)
- Daylight 10 h 58 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:27 pm
- Full dark 6:55 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,922 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in National City
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:31–3:31 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:02–4:02 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:34–10:34 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:28–8:28 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 4 days
- New moon Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pmNov 8 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 3:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 6:54 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 National City
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Bayside Park Pier 3.7 mi
- Pier 20 3.2 mi
- Pier 19 3.2 mi
- Pier 18 3.3 mi
- Boat ramp 2.1 mi
- Boat ramp 3.5 mi
- Boat ramp 3.5 mi
- Safe Harbor South Bay 3.9 mi
- Marriot Marquee Marina 4.4 mi
- Everingham Bros Bait Co. 2.3 mi
- Lemon Grove Bait and Tackle 5.6 mi
- Harbor Island Fuel Dock 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 160 ft from shore.
From the shoreline (1.6 mi from National City) out to sea, heading southwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep80 ft
- 33 ft deep160 ft
- 66 ft deepnot within 1.6 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 1.6 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 34 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. 33 ft deep 160 ft from shore; 66 ft is far out (beyond 1.6 mi): for deeper dives, go by boat.
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) 1.6 mi out. Right by the shore the bottom may drop even faster than shown.
Source: NOAA Southern California Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 100 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near National CityTides nearby
- Chula Vista2.8 mi
- San Diego4.6 mi
- Coronado4.9 mi
- Broadway Pier5.1 mi
- Imperial Beach6.6 mi
- Ocean Beach (San Diego)9.9 mi
- Mission Beach11 mi
- Pacific Beach12 mi
- La Esperanza [Granjas Familiares]15 mi
- La Jolla15 mi
National City at a glance
- Town or city of about 61,060 people. Coordinates: 32.678° N, 117.099° W.
- It is 4.6 mi southeast of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises at the same time and sets at the same time than in San Diego.
- The nearest tide station, National City, is 1.4 mi to the southwest.
- Its coast faces southwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Pier 8 (1.4 mi), Pier 7 (1.4 mi), Pier 39 (1.5 mi), Pier 40 (1.5 mi).
Questions about National CityQuestions
What time is high tide today in National City?
Today in National City there is high tide at 10:34 am (7.2 ft) and low tides at 4:15 am and 6:05 pm. Tide coefficient 84.
What time is sunset today in National City?
At 6:01 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:26 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in National City?
At 7:04 am. First light comes at 6:09 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm.
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 1:31–3:31 am, Minor 9:34–10:34 am, Major 2:02–4:02 pm, Minor 7:28–8:28 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in National City?
Overcast, from 60 °F to 74 °F, with a gentle breeze from the southwest (8 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in National City?
Slight (Douglas 3): 2.6 ft waves with a period of 10.4 s from the west-southwest. The water is 73.8 °F.
When is the best time to visit National City?
The best time to visit National City is from April to September: highs of 73 °F to 82 °F, barely 1 rainy day a month and 9 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 National City (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).