Pfeiffer Beach today
- Beach day Not today Poor beach day · 3/10
- Tide now 0.2 ft ↑ rising · high 2:13 am (3.7 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 11:30 am–12:10 pm average day · 6/10
- Waves · water 5.4 ft · 67 °F moderate · 10.2 s from the west-northwest
- Wind · air 6 mph · 61 °F from the NW, gusts 10 · overcast
- Surf tomorrow 2.0–3.0 ft Fair day · 4/10 · 7:01–9:00 am
- Sun 7:26 am–6:15 pm 10 h 49 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 8:06 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:06 pm
Today in Pfeiffer Beach there are high tides at 1:04 am (3.8 ft) and 11:42 am (6.2 ft) and low tides at 5:26 am and 7:17 pm. Tide coefficient 85. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 2:13 am. The sun rises at 7:26 am and sets at 6:15 pm: 10 h 49 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:06 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:50 am to 3:50 am and from 2:22 pm to 4:22 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 5.4 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the northwest (6 mph). Overcast, 61 °F.
Beach day in Pfeiffer Beach
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Feels like 71 °F: mild
- Cross-shore breeze (11 mph)
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 67 °F (cool)
- Swim with care: 5.6 ft waves every 10 s; moderate rip current risk
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 5.6 ft
5.6 ft waves every 10 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 67 °F
Cool: refreshing on a hot day.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 11 mph
Cross-shore breeze (11 mph).
- Tide & sand 5:26 am
Low tide at 5:26 am and 7:17 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 1:04 am and 11:42 am.
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
About Pfeiffer BeachThe beach
3.0 mi from Posts. Tides, weather and sun in Posts →
- Restrooms
- Parking
Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. See on OpenStreetMap · Fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches near Pfeiffer Beach
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Wreck Beach 1.1 mi · E
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 Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date.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 Pfeiffer Beach
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Fishing in Pfeiffer Beach today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- High tide at 11:42 am, coefficient 82
- Minor period 10:06–11:06 am (moonset)
- Steady pressure (29.97 inHg), light onshore wind (4 mph) and 5.6 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 85 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 10:40 am to 12:40 pm, combines the 11:42 am high tide, moonset and a light onshore breeze. Also good from 7:40 pm to 8:20 pm, with the 7:17 pm low tide and moonrise. Also good from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm, with a major period and a light onshore breeze.
Species with the most records nearby: black rockfish, lingcod, kelp bass and California halibut. October is one of the months when these are seen most: kelp bass and blue shark. What you can catch
Tides in Pfeiffer Beach
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ High tide 1:04 am 3.8 ft · coef. 85
- ▼ Low tide 5:26 am 2.6 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:42 am 6.2 ft · coef. 82
- ▼ Low tide 7:17 pm -0.9 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 4 h 55 min to high tide at 2:13 am.
Tide coefficient 85 for the 1:04 am high tide and 82 for the 11:42 am high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 7.1 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 (6.8 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 9 (coefficient 92, 4.8 ft range). The smallest, on October 17 (coefficient 35, 3.8 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 | 7:26 am · 6:15 pm | High tide 1:04 am · 3.8 ft | Low tide 5:26 am · 2.6 ft | High tide 11:42 am · 6.2 ft | Low tide 7:17 pm · -0.9 ft | Coef. 85 | 91% | Major periods 1:50 am · 2:22 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:27 am · 6:14 pm | High tide 2:13 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 6:10 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 12:29 pm · 6.1 ft | Low tide 8:15 pm · -0.8 ft | Coef. 78 | 83% | Major periods 2:54 am · 3:27 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:28 am · 6:13 pm | High tide 3:29 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 7:07 am · 3.1 ft | High tide 1:25 pm · 5.8 ft | Low tide 9:18 pm · -0.6 ft | Coef. 70 | 73% | Major periods 3:59 am · 4:30 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:29 am · 6:12 pm | High tide 4:46 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 8:26 am · 3.3 ft | High tide 2:33 pm · 5.3 ft | Low tide 10:24 pm · -0.4 ft | Coef. 63 | 62% | Major periods 5:01 am · 5:30 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:30 am · 5:11 pm | High tide 4:49 am · 3.9 ft | Low tide 9:10 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 2:54 pm · 4.9 ft | Low tide 10:27 pm · -0.2 ft | Coef. 62 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:58 am · 5:25 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:31 am · 5:10 pm | High tide 5:38 am · 4.2 ft | Low tide 10:50 am · 2.7 ft | High tide 4:20 pm · 4.6 ft | Low tide 11:23 pm · 0.1 ft | Coef. 67 | 39% | Major periods 5:50 am · 6:15 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:32 am · 5:09 pm | High tide 6:17 am · 4.6 ft | Low tide 12:07 pm · 2.1 ft | High tide 5:42 pm · 4.3 ft | — | Coef. 73 | 29% | Major periods 6:38 am · 7:01 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
Pfeiffer Beach has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Carmel Cove (NOAA), 21 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 Monterey reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Pfeiffer Beach
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common2.7 ft
- Significant5.4 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
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces southwest 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: 6.7 ft with a period of 16 s, from the west (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 (+8.4 °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 9:18 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 46236, courtesy of CDIP (Coastal Data Information Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), via the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Surf in Pfeiffer Beach today
Surf today
Fair- 2.4–3.7 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 4.8 ft swell at 7 s from the west-northwest, short: weak, messy waves
- Light offshore wind (7 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Rising tide (high tide at 11:42 am)
- Light: First light 7:00 am · sunrise 7:26 am · sunset 6:15 pm · last light 6:41 pm
- Tide: high 1:04 am (3.8 ft), low 5:26 am (2.6 ft), high 11:42 am (6.2 ft) and low 7:17 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 66.4 °F: a springsuit or a 2 mm fullsuit.
- Energy: 177 kJ · Medium power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 7:00 am to 11:00 am, has a good size and light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell. 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm can also work, with a good size and glassy water, 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 Pfeiffer Beach today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: fair- Slack water around high tide (11:42 am): little current from 11:20 am to 12:00 pm
- 4.7 ft swell at 7 s from the west-northwest: some surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (4 mph)
- 0.8 mph current toward the northwest (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: high tide 1:04 am (12:30–1:50 am), low tide 5:26 am (4:40–6:00 am), high tide 11:42 am (11:20 am–12:00 pm) and low tide 7:17 pm (7:00–7:40 pm)
- Likely visibility: fair. Swell (up to 4.8 ft at 7 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 66.4 °F: a 5 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:41 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 8:06 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:30 am to 12:40 pm, combines slack water at high tide, light wind and the sun high, though with some swell and 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
- Point Sur State Marine Reserve 4.4 mi
- Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area 6.6 mi
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park 9.1 mi
- Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area 12 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
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Weather in Pfeiffer Beach
Now in Pfeiffer Beach
- Low / high
- 55 / 69 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 100%
- Humidity
- 65%
- Dew pointDew point
- 49 °F
- Visibility
- 16 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 | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 57° | 57° | 55° | 61° | 68° | 69° | 63° | 61° |
| Wind (mph) | 13 NW | 6 NW | 8 E | 3 ENE | 4 W | 8 WNW | 11 NW | 7 NW |
| Gusts | 20 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 11 |
| Waves | 5.2 ft | 5.4 ft | 5.6 ft | 5.6 ft | 5.6 ft | 5.5 ft | 5.4 ft | 5.4 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 61° 7 NW 5.4 ft
- 12:00 am 59° 3 N 5.4 ft
- 3:00 am 60° 6 E 5.3 ft
- 6:00 am 60° 4 SE 5.2 ft
- 9:00 am 62° 5 ESE 5.1 ft
- 12:00 pm 67° 7 SSE 5.1 ft
- 3:00 pm 66° 4 SSW 5.1 ft
- 6:00 pm 62° 0 NW 5.0 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 55 / 69 °F | 13 mph NW | 5.6 ft | 1:04 am · 11:42 am | |
| Thu 29 | 59 / 67 °F | 7 mph SE | 5.4 ft | 2:13 am · 12:29 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 57 / 64 °F | 2 mph NW | 4.9 ft | 3:29 am · 1:25 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 56 / 63 °F | 2 mph N | 4.5 ft | 4:46 am · 2:33 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 54 / 66 °F | 4 mph N | 6.4 ft | 4:49 am · 2:54 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 55 / 69 °F | 2 mph NE | 6.6 ft | 5:38 am · 4:20 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 59 / 68 °F | 2 mph N | 6.7 ft | 6:17 am · 5:42 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 58 / 67 °F | 1 mph N | 6.0 ft | 6:52 am · 6:55 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 57 / 67 °F | 3 mph NNW | 5.2 ft | 7:23 am · 7:59 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 58 / 65 °F | 3 mph NNW | 11 ft | 7:53 am · 8:58 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 57 / 67 °F | 3 mph N | 11 ft | 8:21 am · 9:53 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 59 / 73 °F | 4 mph N | 12 ft | 8:49 am · 10:45 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 64 / 78 °F | 3 mph WNW | 12 ft | 9:17 am · 11:36 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 64 / 78 °F | 5 mph S | 9.3 ft | 9:46 am |
- Thu 29 Overcast 59° / 67° 5.4 ft
- Fri 30 Overcast 57° / 64° 4.9 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 56° / 63° 4.5 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 54° / 66° 6.4 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 55° / 69° 6.6 ft
- Tue 3 Partly cloudy 59° / 68° 6.7 ft
- Wed 4 Clear sky 58° / 67° 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.
- The models They don't agree · low confidence: unsure about rain on Saturday 31. See the models →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+2.3 °F; normal high: 67 °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 9:18 pm (local time).
The sun in Pfeiffer Beach
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:30 am
- Full dark 7:12 pm
- Civil dawn 7:00 am
- Civil dusk 6:41 pm
- Solar noon 12:51 pm (40° high)
- Daylight 10 h 49 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:39 pm
- Full dark 7:12 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,602 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Pfeiffer Beach
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:50–3:50 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:22–4:22 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:06–11:06 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:36–8:36 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 Pfeiffer Beach
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
We have no piers, boat ramps or tackle shops on record within 9.3 mi of Pfeiffer Beach.
If you know one, you can add it to OpenStreetMap and it will show up here after the next update. Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Deepens quicklyThe bottom deepens quickly: 33 ft of water 850 ft from shore. It reaches 164 ft at 0.9 mi.
From the shoreline out to sea, heading southwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep330 ft
- 33 ft deep850 ft
- 66 ft deep0.45 mi
- 164 ft deep0.9 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 16 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. Shore diving works here: 33 ft at 850 ft and 66 ft at 0.45 mi from shore.
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 Pfeiffer BeachTides nearby
- Carmel-by-the-Sea23 mi
- Del Monte Forest25 mi
- Del Monte25 mi
- Monterey25 mi
- Seaside26 mi
- Sand City26 mi
- Pacific Grove27 mi
- Marina31 mi
Pfeiffer Beach at a glance
- Beach. Coordinates: 36.239° N, 121.817° W.
- It is 360 mi northwest of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises 23 min later and sets 14 min later than in San Diego.
- 3.0 mi from Posts.
- The nearest tide station, Carmel Cove, is 21 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces southwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Wreck Beach (1.1 mi).
Questions about Pfeiffer BeachQuestions
Where is Pfeiffer Beach?
3.0 mi from Posts, in California (United States). The shore faces southwest.
What amenities does Pfeiffer Beach have?
According to OpenStreetMap: restrooms and parking. Some may be missing or out of date, so ask at the beach.
How clean is the water at Pfeiffer Beach?
There's no open yearly bathing water rating in the US. Each state and territory monitors its beaches and posts an advisory when swimming isn't safe: check the official beach advisories for California (California State Water Resources Control Board).
What time is high tide today in Pfeiffer Beach?
Today in Pfeiffer Beach there are high tides at 1:04 am (3.8 ft) and 11:42 am (6.2 ft) and low tides at 5:26 am and 7:17 pm. Tide coefficient 85.
What time is sunset today in Pfeiffer Beach?
At 6:15 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:41 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Pfeiffer Beach?
At 7:27 am. First light comes at 6:31 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 1:50–3:50 am, Minor 10:06–11:06 am, Major 2:22–4:22 pm, Minor 7:36–8:36 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Pfeiffer Beach?
Overcast, from 55 °F to 69 °F, with a light breeze from the northwest (6 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Pfeiffer Beach?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.4 ft waves with a period of 10.2 s from the west-northwest. The water is 66.7 °F.
When is the best time to visit Pfeiffer Beach?
The best time to visit Pfeiffer Beach is from July to September: highs of 69 °F to 71 °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 Carmel Cove (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).