TidePlanet
Official alerts:
  • Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. Until Sat 31, 6:00 pm. NWS San Francisco CA

Today in San Carlos there are high tides at 3:32 am (6.9 ft) and 2:14 pm (8.8 ft) and low tides at 8:40 am and 9:51 pm. Tide coefficient 83. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 9:51 pm. The sun rises at 7:30 am and sets at 6:15 pm: 10 h 45 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:03 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:52 am to 3:52 am and from 2:24 pm to 4:24 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 5.1 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the west (6 mph). Overcast, 60 °F.

Fishing

Fishing in San Carlos today

Fishing forecast, 7 days →

Best time to fish

Solunar activity today: medium
7
Good day · 7 out of 10 2:20–3:10 pm Also 2:30–3:50 am and 7:40–9:40 am
  • High tide at 2:14 pm, coefficient 81
  • Major period 2:24–4:24 pm
  • Steady pressure (29.97 inHg), light cross-shore wind (6 mph) and 5.1 ft waves
  • Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
  • Highest tide coefficient today: 83 (average tides)

Your day at a glance

The best window, 2:20 pm to 3:10 pm, combines the 2:14 pm high tide and a major period. Also good from 2:30 am to 3:50 am, with the 3:32 am high tide and a major period. Also good from 7:40 am to 9:40 am, with the 8:40 am low tide and sunrise.

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 San Carlos

Beach forecast, 7 days →

Is it a beach day?

3
Poor beach day · 3 out of 10 No good beach time today.
  • Sun and clouds
  • Offshore breeze (7 mph)
  • UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
  • Low tide at 8:40 am: more sand
  • Feels like 66 °F: a bit cool
  • Calm for swimming: 5.2 ft waves; moderate rip current risk

Today, hour by hour

  • Swimming Calm · 5.2 ft

    5.2 ft waves: calm for swimming. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.

  • Water 63 °F

    Cold: ease in slowly.

  • Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30

    Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.

  • Wind 7 mph

    Offshore breeze (7 mph).

  • Tide & sand 9:51 pm

    Low tide at 8:40 am and 9:51 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 3:32 am and 2:14 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 San Carlos

We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of San Carlos.

Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap

Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Tides

Tides in San Carlos

Tides for 7 days →

Today's high and low tides

  • ▲ High tide 3:32 am 6.9 ft · coef. 83
  • ▼ Low tide 8:40 am 2.8 ft
  • ▲ High tide 2:14 pm 8.8 ft · coef. 81

↓ Falling The tide is falling. 2 h 43 min to low tide at 9:51 pm.

Tide coefficient 83 for the 3:32 am high tide and 81 for the 2:14 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 9.8 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 (9.3 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, 8.1 ft range). The smallest, from October 17 to 18 (coefficient 40, 6.6 ft).

Tide and solunar table · this week

Day Sun Tide 1Tide 2Tide 3Tide 4 Coef. Moon Major periods Activity
Today, Wed 28 7:30 am · 6:15 pm High tide 3:32 am · 6.9 ft Low tide 8:40 am · 2.8 ft High tide 2:14 pm · 8.8 ft Low tide 9:51 pm · -1.1 ft Coef. 83 91% Major periods 1:52 am · 2:24 pm Medium
Thu 29 7:31 am · 6:14 pm High tide 4:33 am · 6.8 ft Low tide 9:29 am · 3.1 ft High tide 3:02 pm · 8.6 ft Low tide 10:46 pm · -0.9 ft Coef. 78 83% Major periods 2:56 am · 3:29 pm Medium
Fri 30 7:32 am · 6:13 pm High tide 5:39 am · 6.7 ft Low tide 10:29 am · 3.3 ft High tide 3:57 pm · 8.3 ft Low tide 11:48 pm · -0.7 ft Coef. 71 73% Major periods 4:01 am · 4:32 pm Medium
Sat 31 7:33 am · 6:12 pm High tide 6:47 am · 6.7 ft Low tide 11:47 am · 3.4 ft High tide 5:03 pm · 7.9 ft — Coef. 65 62% Major periods 5:02 am · 5:32 pm Medium
Sun 1 6:34 am · 5:11 pm Low tide 12:55 am · -0.4 ft High tide 6:51 am · 6.8 ft Low tide 12:22 pm · 3.2 ft High tide 5:19 pm · 7.5 ft Coef. 62 Last quarter Major periods 5:00 am · 5:26 pm Medium
Mon 2 6:35 am · 5:10 pm Low tide 1:02 am · -0.1 ft High tide 7:46 am · 7.1 ft Low tide 1:49 pm · 2.7 ft High tide 6:41 pm · 7.2 ft Coef. 66 39% Major periods 5:52 am · 6:17 pm Medium
Tue 3 6:36 am · 5:08 pm Low tide 2:04 am · 0.2 ft High tide 8:32 am · 7.4 ft Low tide 2:59 pm · 2.0 ft High tide 8:01 pm · 7.0 ft Coef. 72 29% Major periods 6:40 am · 7:03 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

A · Official station

Tides from the Smith Slough station (NOAA), 2.1 mi from San Carlos. 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)

How we calculate the tide

Sea and waves

The sea at San Carlos

7-day waves

Sea stateSea state: moderate

Moderate Douglas 4 · gentle breeze, Beaufort 3
Waves 5.1 ft · 9.6 s from the west-northwest (291°)
Swell 4.0 ft · 5.7 s from the west-northwest
Current 0.1 mph toward the WSW

The waves you may find

  • Most commonMost common2.5 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

On the coast 6 mph W · gusts 12
Offshore (13 mi W)Offshore 8 mph NNW · gusts 15

Offshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind blows from land out to sea: calm shore and clean waves, but watch the drift out to sea.

Offshore Hourly wind →

Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days

Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Sunday 1: 6.4 ft with a period of 8 s, from the west-northwest (moderate).

Water temperature

Water temperature →
Water now63.0 °F
Today 62.6–63.0 °F air: 47 / 70 °F

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).

Water temperature →

Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 7:08 pm (local time).

Nearest buoy

San Francisco Bar, CA (142) Buoy 46237 · 28 mi NW of here Measured at 6:30 pm, 38 min ago
Waves 4.3 ft · 14 s from the west (269°)
Water 61.3 °F air 60 °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.

Diving

Diving in San Carlos today

Diving and snorkeling, 7 days →

Diving and snorkeling today

Likely visibility: fair
7
Good day · 7 out of 10 1:40–3:10 pm Also 8:00–9:10 am
  • Slack water around high tide (2:14 pm): little current from 1:59 pm to 2:40 pm
  • 4.1 ft swell at 6 s from the west-northwest: some surge on the bottom
  • Light cross-shore wind (6 mph)
  • 0.1 mph current toward the west, weak (model)
  • Sun high: more light underwater
Swell 4.1 ft 6 s · from the WNW
Likely visibility Fair Snorkeling: poor
Water and suit 62.6 °F 7 mm wetsuit
Current 0.1 mph toward the W
  • Slack water today: high tide 3:32 am (3:17–3:50 am), low tide 8:40 am (8:20–8:55 am), high tide 2:14 pm (1:59–2:40 pm) and low tide 9:51 pm (9:30–10:06 pm)
  • Likely visibility: fair. Swell (up to 5.4 ft at 6 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
  • Water at 62.6 °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 (91%), rising at 8:03 pm: a bright night.

Your diving day at a glance

The best window, 1:40 pm to 3:10 pm, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell. Also worth a look from 8:00 am to 9:10 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

Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Weather

Weather in San Carlos

14-day weather

Now in San Carlos

Now 60 °F Overcast · feels like 55 °F · 47 / 70 °F
Low / high
47 / 70 °F
Rain
0.00 in · 0%
Clouds
100%
Humidity
54%
Dew pointDew point
43 °F
Visibility
22 mi
UV indexUV
0 · low
Air qualityAir
Moderate · 53
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). Over the next 48 hours: −0.09 inHg. 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 Partly cloudyPartly cloudyOvercastPartly cloudyMainly clearPartly cloudyOvercastOvercast
Temperature 51°49°47°53°66°70°64°56°
Wind (mph) 2 SSW1 W4 WSW3 WSW4 NE6 NNW7 WNW4 WNW
Gusts 324388118
Waves 6.2 ft5.9 ft5.4 ft5.2 ft5.1 ft5.1 ft5.1 ft5.2 ft
Rain 0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in0.00 in
  • 9:00 pm 56° 4 WNW 5.2 ft
  • 12:00 am 52° 4 S 5.2 ft
  • 3:00 am 52° 4 S 5.1 ft
  • 6:00 am 51° 2 SW 4.9 ft
  • 9:00 am 53° 2 SSW 4.8 ft
  • 12:00 pm 65° 5 ENE 4.8 ft
  • 3:00 pm 69° 3 NNW 4.9 ft
  • 6:00 pm 64° 5 W 4.8 ft

Next 14 daysComing days

Day Sky Low / high Max wind Max wave High tides
Today · 28 Overcast 47 / 70 °F 7 mph WNW 6.2 ft 3:32 am · 2:14 pm
Thu 29 Overcast 50 / 69 °F 6 mph WSW 5.2 ft 4:33 am · 3:02 pm
Fri 30 Overcast 52 / 67 °F 11 mph W 4.8 ft 5:39 am · 3:57 pm
Sat 31 Overcast 51 / 64 °F 7 mph WNW 4.3 ft 6:47 am · 5:03 pm
Sun 1 Light drizzle 49 / 66 °F 13 mph NW 6.4 ft 6:51 am · 5:19 pm
Mon 2 Overcast 49 / 69 °F 4 mph NE 6.2 ft 7:46 am · 6:41 pm
Tue 3 Overcast 52 / 71 °F 4 mph WSW 6.3 ft 8:32 am · 8:01 pm
Wed 4 Overcast 52 / 69 °F 6 mph SW 5.5 ft 9:12 am · 9:15 pm
Thu 5 Overcast 52 / 68 °F 9 mph W 5.8 ft 9:47 am · 10:20 pm
Fri 6 Overcast 53 / 66 °F 9 mph WNW 9.6 ft 10:19 am · 11:20 pm
Sat 7 Overcast 53 / 67 °F 7 mph WNW — 10:49 am
Sun 8 Overcast 54 / 67 °F 7 mph NW — 12:15 am · 11:18 am
Mon 9 Overcast 56 / 72 °F 2 mph WSW — 1:06 am · 11:46 am
Tue 10 Overcast 59 / 73 °F 5 mph WNW — 1:55 am · 12:16 pm
  • Thu 29 Overcast 50° / 69° 5.2 ft
  • Fri 30 Overcast 52° / 67° 4.8 ft
  • Sat 31 Overcast 51° / 64° 4.3 ft
  • Sun 1 Light drizzle 49° / 66° 6.4 ft
  • Mon 2 Overcast 49° / 69° 6.2 ft
  • Tue 3 Overcast 52° / 71° 6.3 ft
  • Wed 4 Overcast 52° / 69° 5.5 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 7:08 pm (local time).

Sun

The sun in San Carlos

Sunrise and sunset →

Sunrise and sunset

Rises 7:30 am in the ESE (106°)ESE
Sets 6:15 pm in the WSW (254°)WSW
  • First light 6:32 am
  • Full dark 7:13 pm
  • Civil dawn 7:03 am
  • Civil dusk 6:42 pm
  • Solar noon 12:53 pm (39° high)
  • Daylight 10 h 45 min (−2 min)
  • Evening golden hour 5:39 pm
  • Full dark 7:13 pm

Golden hour and the day-night map

Morning golden hour7:30–8:07 am
Evening golden hour5:39–6:15 pm
San Carlos

Today the sun is 92,351,572 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.

Moon and solunar

The moon in San Carlos

The moon for 7 days →

Moon phase and position

Waning gibbous · 91% 91% illuminated · 18.1 days old New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm
Rises 8:03 pm in the NE (55°)NE
Sets 11:51 am tomorrow · in the NW (306°) · set at 10:42 am
Transit 2:52 am overhead
Visible 15 h 48 min from 8:03 pm to 11:51 am

Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.

Solunar periods

Today's activity: medium
  • 1:52–3:52 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
  • 2:24–4:24 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
  • 10:12–11:12 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 · 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.

Place

Where to fish in San Carlos

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

Shallow, gradual

Shallow, gradual bottom: 0 ft at 0.3 mi.

From the shoreline (2.4 mi from San Carlos) out to sea, heading east.

How far from shore

  • 16 ft deepnot within 0.3 mi
  • 33 ft deepnot within 0.3 mi
  • 66 ft deepnot within 0.3 mi
  • 164 ft deepnot within 0.3 mi

For fishing, swimming and diving

  • Shore fishing. Very shallow: the water doesn't reach 16 ft within 0.3 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 0.3 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.

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) 0.3 mi out.

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 San CarlosTides nearby

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

San Carlos at a glance

  • Town or city of about 29,931 people. Coordinates: 37.507° N, 122.261° W.
  • It is 439 mi northwest of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises 27 min later and sets 14 min later than in San Diego.
  • The nearest tide station, Smith Slough, is 2.1 mi to the east.
  • Its coast faces east.
  • Beaches and harbors nearby: Docktown Marina (2.3 mi), Petes Harbor (2.5 mi), Port of Redwood City (2.9 mi), Westpoint Harbor (3.7 mi).

Questions about San CarlosQuestions

What time is high tide today in San Carlos?

Today in San Carlos there are high tides at 3:32 am (6.9 ft) and 2:14 pm (8.8 ft) and low tides at 8:40 am and 9:51 pm. Tide coefficient 83.

What time is sunset today in San Carlos?

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

What time is sunrise tomorrow in San Carlos?

At 7:31 am. First light comes at 6:33 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 1:52–3:52 am, Minor 10:12–11:12 am, Major 2:24–4:24 pm, Minor 7:33–8:33 pm. Today's activity is medium.

What's the weather like today in San Carlos?

Overcast, from 47 °F to 70 °F, with a light breeze from the west (6 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.

How is the sea today in San Carlos?

Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.1 ft waves with a period of 9.6 s from the west-northwest. The water is 63.0 °F.

When is the best time to visit San Carlos?

The best time to visit San Carlos is from June to September: highs of 74 °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 Smith Slough (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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