TidePlanet
Official alerts:
  • Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. Until 5:00 pm tomorrow. NWS San Francisco CA

Today in Pacifica there are high tides at 4:00 am (6.1 ft) and 2:29 pm (7.9 ft) and low tides at 8:34 am and 9:51 pm. Tide coefficient 78. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 4:00 am. The sun rises at 7:32 am and sets at 6:15 pm: 10 h 42 min of daylight. The moon is 83% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:07 pm. Major solunar periods run from 2:57 am to 4:57 am and from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The next spring tides arrive from November 9 to 11. The sea is moderate, with 5.5 ft waves. There's a light air from the south-southeast (2 mph). Overcast, 54 °F.

Fishing

Fishing in Pacifica today

Fishing forecast, 7 days →

Best time to fish

Solunar activity today: medium
7
Good day · 7 out of 10 7:30–8:10 am Also 8:50–9:40 pm and 3:00–5:00 am
  • Low tide at 8:34 am
  • Sunrise at 7:32 am
  • Falling pressure (−0.10 inHg in 24 h), light cross-shore wind (5 mph) and 4.9 ft waves
  • 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, 7:30 am to 8:10 am, combines the 8:34 am low tide, sunrise and falling pressure. Also good from 8:50 pm to 9:40 pm, with the 9:51 pm low tide, moonrise, falling pressure, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also good from 3:00 am to 5:00 am, with the 4:00 am high tide, a major period and falling pressure.

Species with the most records nearby: market squid, Chinook salmon, lingcod and striped bass. October is one of the months when these are seen most: lingcod and black rockfish. What you can catch

How it works · Next 7 days · Fishing rules

Beach

Beach day in Pacifica

Beach forecast, 7 days →

Is it a beach day?

0
Not a beach day · 0 out of 10 No good beach time today.
  • Onshore breeze (9 mph)
  • UV 3 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
  • Low tide at 8:34 am: more sand
  • Cloudy (83% cloud cover)
  • Feels like 62 °F: chilly for the beach
  • Dangerous for swimming: 5.0 ft waves every 10 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 · 5.0 ft

    5.0 ft waves every 10 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 64 °F

    Cold: ease in slowly.

  • Sun & sunscreen UV 3 · SPF 30

    Max UV 3 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.

  • Wind 9 mph

    Onshore breeze (9 mph).

  • Tide & sand 8:34 am

    Low tide at 8:34 am and 9:51 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 4:00 am and 2:29 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 Pacifica

Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors

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).

Tides

Tides in Pacifica

Tides for 7 days →

Today's high and low tides

  • ▼ Low tide 8:34 am 3.1 ft
  • ▲ High tide 2:29 pm 7.9 ft · coef. 75
  • ▼ Low tide 9:51 pm -0.9 ft

↑ Rising The tide is rising. 3 h 42 min to high tide at 4:00 am.

Tide coefficient 78 for the 4:00 am high tide and 75 for the 2:29 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 8.9 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 (8.6 ft) and the lowest, on June 16 (-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 10 (coefficient 89, 7.4 ft range). The smallest, from October 17 to 18 (coefficient 40, 2.6 ft).

Tide and solunar table · this week

Day Sun Tide 1Tide 2Tide 3Tide 4 Coef. Moon Major periods Activity
Today, Thu 29 7:32 am · 6:15 pm High tide 4:00 am · 6.1 ft Low tide 8:34 am · 3.1 ft High tide 2:29 pm · 7.9 ft Low tide 9:51 pm · -0.9 ft Coef. 78 83% Major periods 2:57 am · 3:30 pm Medium
Fri 30 7:33 am · 6:13 pm High tide 5:06 am · 6.0 ft Low tide 9:34 am · 3.3 ft High tide 3:24 pm · 7.6 ft Low tide 10:53 pm · -0.7 ft Coef. 71 73% Major periods 4:02 am · 4:33 pm Medium
Sat 31 7:34 am · 6:12 pm High tide 6:14 am · 6.0 ft Low tide 10:52 am · 3.4 ft High tide 4:30 pm · 7.2 ft Low tide 12:00 am · -0.4 ft Coef. 65 62% Major periods 5:03 am · 5:33 pm Medium
Sun 1 6:35 am · 5:11 pm High tide 6:18 am · 6.2 ft Low tide 11:27 am · 3.2 ft High tide 4:46 pm · 6.8 ft — Coef. 62 Last quarter Major periods 5:01 am · 5:27 pm Medium
Mon 2 6:36 am · 5:10 pm Low tide 12:07 am · -0.1 ft High tide 7:13 am · 6.4 ft Low tide 12:54 pm · 2.7 ft High tide 6:08 pm · 6.5 ft Coef. 66 39% Major periods 5:53 am · 6:17 pm Medium
Tue 3 6:37 am · 5:09 pm Low tide 1:09 am · 0.2 ft High tide 7:59 am · 6.7 ft Low tide 2:04 pm · 2.0 ft High tide 7:28 pm · 6.3 ft Coef. 72 29% Major periods 6:41 am · 7:04 pm Medium
Wed 4 6:38 am · 5:08 pm Low tide 2:03 am · 0.5 ft High tide 8:39 am · 7.0 ft Low tide 3:01 pm · 1.3 ft High tide 8:42 pm · 6.2 ft Coef. 77 20% Major periods 7:27 am · 7:49 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

B · Nearby station

Pacifica has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Seaplane Harbor (NOAA), 5.9 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger. 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)

How we calculate the tide

Sea and waves

The sea at Pacifica

7-day waves

Sea stateSea state: moderate

Moderate Douglas 4 · light air, Beaufort 1
Waves 5.5 ft · 9.1 s from the west-northwest (295°)
Swell 4.5 ft · 5.6 s from the northwest
Current 0.3 mph toward the NNW

The waves you may find

  • Most commonMost common2.8 ft
  • Significant5.5 ft
  • Highest expectedHighest11 ft

One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 11 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 11 ft.

Wind on the coast and offshore

On the coast 2 mph SSE · gusts 3
Offshore (7.9 mi S)Offshore 3 mph N · gusts 6

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.

Cross-offshore Hourly wind →

Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days

Waves build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Sunday 1: 6.8 ft with a period of 8 s, from the west-northwest (moderate).

Water temperature

Water temperature →
Water now63.1 °F
Today 63.1–63.7 °F air: 53 / 66 °F
Satellite (2 days ago) 64.4 °F measured 0.8 mi away

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 (+6.6 °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 12:19 am (local time).

Nearest buoy

San Francisco Bar, CA (142) Buoy 46237 · 14 mi NW of here Measured at 11:30 pm, 49 min ago
Waves 4.3 ft · 15 s from the west (263°)
Water 61.5 °F air 59 °F

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

Surf in Pacifica today

Surf hour by hour and 7 days →

Surf today

Fair
4
Fair · 4 out of 10 7:05–11:00 am 2.4–3.7 ft Also 12:00–1:00 pm
  • 2.4–3.7 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
  • 3.8 ft swell at 6 s from the northwest, short: weak, messy waves
  • Light cross-shore wind (5 mph)
  • First or last light of the day
  • Falling tide (low tide at 8:34 am)
Surf at the shore 2.4–3.7 ft average – sets
Swell 3.8 ft 6 s · NW · 80 kJ
Wind 5 mph S · cross-shore
Water and wetsuit 63.1 °F 3/2 fullsuit
  • Light: First light 7:05 am · sunrise 7:32 am · sunset 6:15 pm · last light 6:42 pm
  • Tide: high 4:00 am (6.1 ft), low 8:34 am (3.1 ft), high 2:29 pm (7.9 ft) and low 9:51 pm (-0.9 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 63.1 °F: a 3/2 fullsuit.
  • Energy: 80 kJ · Low power

Today’s surf at a glance

The best window, 7:05 am to 11:00 am, has a good size, though with a short-period swell. 12:00 pm to 1:00 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.

How it’s calculated · Next 7 days

Diving

Diving in Pacifica today

Diving and snorkeling, 7 days →

Diving and snorkeling today

Likely visibility: fair
7
Good day · 7 out of 10 1:40–3:20 pm Also 7:50–9:20 am
  • Slack water around high tide (2:29 pm): little current from 2:10 pm to 2:50 pm
  • 3.9 ft swell at 6 s from the northwest: some surge on the bottom
  • Light onshore wind (7 mph)
  • 0.0 mph current toward the east, weak (model)
  • Sun high: more light underwater
Swell 3.9 ft 6 s · from the NW
Likely visibility Fair Snorkeling: poor
Water and suit 63.1 °F 7 mm wetsuit
Current 0.0 mph toward the E
  • Slack water today: high tide 4:00 am (3:40–4:20 am), low tide 8:34 am (8:10–9:00 am), high tide 2:29 pm (2:10–2:50 pm) and low tide 9:51 pm (9:30–10:10 pm)
  • Likely visibility: fair. Swell (up to 5.5 ft at 6 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
  • Water at 63.1 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
  • Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
  • Night dive: dark from 6:42 pm. Waning gibbous (83%), rising at 9:07 pm: a bright night.

Your diving day at a glance

The best window, 1:40 pm to 3:20 pm, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell. Also worth a look from 7:50 am to 9:20 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.

How it works · Next 7 days

Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby

Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

Weather in Pacifica

14-day weather

Now in Pacifica

Now 54 °F Overcast · feels like 51 °F · 53 / 66 °F
Low / high
53 / 66 °F
Rain
0.00 in · 3%
Clouds
81%
Humidity
64%
Dew pointDew point
42 °F
Visibility
15 mi
UV indexUV
0 · low
Air qualityAir
Moderate · 55
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 (−0.03 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 am3:00 am6:00 am9:00 am12:00 pm3:00 pm6:00 pm9:00 pm
Sky OvercastOvercastOvercastOvercastPartly cloudyOvercastOvercastOvercast
Temperature 53°55°55°56°64°63°59°58°
Wind (mph) 2 SSE2 S7 S5 SSE5 S7 WSW8 W4 W
Gusts 2275712116
Waves 5.5 ft5.2 ft5.0 ft4.9 ft4.9 ft5.0 ft4.9 ft4.8 ft
Rain 0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in
  • 12:00 am 53° 2 SSE 5.5 ft
  • 3:00 am 55° 2 S 5.2 ft
  • 6:00 am 55° 7 S 5.0 ft
  • 9:00 am 56° 5 SSE 4.9 ft
  • 12:00 pm 64° 5 S 4.9 ft
  • 3:00 pm 63° 7 WSW 5.0 ft
  • 6:00 pm 59° 8 W 4.9 ft
  • 9:00 pm 58° 4 W 4.8 ft

Next 14 daysComing days

Day Sky Low / high Max wind Max wave High tides
Today · 29 Overcast 53 / 66 °F 9 mph SW 5.5 ft 4:00 am · 2:29 pm
Fri 30 Overcast 56 / 60 °F 10 mph WNW 5.0 ft 5:06 am · 3:24 pm
Sat 31 Overcast 55 / 59 °F 10 mph W 4.8 ft 6:14 am · 4:30 pm
Sun 1 Light drizzle 53 / 60 °F 13 mph NNW 6.8 ft 6:18 am · 4:46 pm
Mon 2 Overcast 53 / 64 °F 6 mph NNE 6.2 ft 7:13 am · 6:08 pm
Tue 3 Overcast 56 / 64 °F 7 mph NNE 6.2 ft 7:59 am · 7:28 pm
Wed 4 Overcast 56 / 63 °F 6 mph WSW 5.5 ft 8:39 am · 8:42 pm
Thu 5 Overcast 56 / 62 °F 11 mph WSW 5.9 ft 9:14 am · 9:47 pm
Fri 6 Overcast 57 / 61 °F 12 mph WNW 9.5 ft 9:46 am · 10:47 pm
Sat 7 Overcast 57 / 62 °F 9 mph NW — 10:16 am · 11:42 pm
Sun 8 Overcast 57 / 66 °F 7 mph NNW — 10:45 am
Mon 9 Overcast 56 / 72 °F 2 mph WSW — 12:33 am · 11:13 am
Tue 10 Overcast 59 / 73 °F 5 mph WNW — 1:22 am · 11:43 am
Wed 11 Overcast 57 / 67 °F 11 mph SSW — 2:10 am · 12:14 pm
  • Fri 30 Overcast 56° / 60° 5.0 ft
  • Sat 31 Overcast 55° / 59° 4.8 ft
  • Sun 1 Light drizzle 53° / 60° 6.8 ft
  • Mon 2 Overcast 53° / 64° 6.2 ft
  • Tue 3 Overcast 56° / 64° 6.2 ft
  • Wed 4 Overcast 56° / 63° 5.5 ft
  • Thu 5 Overcast 56° / 62° 5.9 ft
See all 14 days →

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.

Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 12:19 am (local time).

Sun

The sun in Pacifica

Sunrise and sunset →

Sunrise and sunset

Rises 7:32 am in the ESE (107°)ESE
Sets 6:15 pm in the WSW (253°)WSW
  • First light 6:34 am
  • Full dark 7:12 pm
  • Civil dawn 7:05 am
  • Civil dusk 6:42 pm
  • Solar noon 12:54 pm (39° high)
  • Daylight 10 h 42 min (−2 min)
  • Evening golden hour 5:38 pm
  • Full dark 7:12 pm

Golden hour and the day-night map

Morning golden hour7:32–8:09 am
Evening golden hour5:38–6:15 pm
Pacifica

Today the sun is 92,327,343 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.

Moon and solunar

The moon in Pacifica

The moon for 7 days →

Moon phase and position

Waning gibbous · 83% 83% illuminated · 19.1 days old New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm
Rises 9:07 pm in the NE (54°)NE
Sets 12:51 pm tomorrow · in the NW (304°) · set at 11:53 am
Transit 3:57 am overhead
Visible 15 h 44 min from 9:07 pm to 12:51 pm

Today the moon is 226,837 mi away and looks 32′ 43″ across.

Solunar periods

Today's activity: medium
  • 2:57–4:57 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
  • 3:30–5:30 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
  • 11:23 am–12:23 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.

Place

Where to fish in Pacifica

All places in California →

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

Gentle slope

The bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 0.25 mi from shore and 33 ft at 0.3 mi.

From the shoreline (0.6 mi from Pacifica) out to sea, heading west.

How far from shore

  • 16 ft deep0.25 mi
  • 33 ft deep0.3 mi
  • 66 ft deep1.5 mi
  • 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi

For fishing, swimming and diving

  • Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 0.25 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. 33 ft deep 0.3 mi from shore; 66 ft is far out (1.5 mi): for deeper dives, 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.

Nearest lighthouse

Photo of Point Montara Light
Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0

Point Montara Light 5.6 mi south

Light
A white flash every 5 s · Fl W 5s
Range
14 nautical miles (16 mi)
Light height
69 ft above sea level
Tower height
30 ft
Built
1875

Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses

Tides near PacificaTides nearby

All places in California, A to Z (712) →

Pacifica at a glance

  • Town or city of about 39,260 people. Coordinates: 37.614° N, 122.487° W.
  • It is 452 mi northwest of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises 28 min later and sets 14 min later than in San Diego.
  • The nearest tide station, Seaplane Harbor, is 5.9 mi to the east.
  • Its coast faces west.
  • Beaches and harbors nearby: Rockaway Beach (0.6 mi), Sharp Park Beach (1.0 mi), San Pedro Beach (1.4 mi), Pacifica Municipal Pier (1.5 mi).

Questions about PacificaQuestions

What time is high tide today in Pacifica?

Today in Pacifica there are high tides at 4:00 am (6.1 ft) and 2:29 pm (7.9 ft) and low tides at 8:34 am and 9:51 pm. Tide coefficient 78.

What time is sunset today in Pacifica?

At 6:15 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:42 pm.

What time is sunrise tomorrow in Pacifica?

At 7:33 am. First light comes at 6:35 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 2:57–4:57 am, Minor 11:23 am–12:23 pm, Major 3:30–5:30 pm, Minor 8:37–9:37 pm. Today's activity is medium.

What's the weather like today in Pacifica?

Overcast, from 53 °F to 66 °F, with a light air from the south-southeast (2 mph) and a 3% chance of rain.

How is the sea today in Pacifica?

Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.5 ft waves with a period of 9.1 s from the west-northwest. The water is 63.1 °F.

When is the best time to visit Pacifica?

The best time to visit Pacifica is from June to September: highs of 65 °F to 68 °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 Seaplane Harbor (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Spotted a mistake? Tell us · How we calculate the tide

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