Potomac Heights tides today
- Tide now 1.7 ft ↓ falling · low 4:20 am (0.2 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 3:20–5:10 pm good day · 7/10
- Wind · air 4 mph · 53 °F from the E, gusts 5 · clear
- Sun 7:31 am–6:13 pm 10 h 42 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:51 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:51 pm
- Pressure 30.31 inHg falling · falling tomorrow
- Coefficient 80 average coefficient · spring tides Oct 26–28
- Major solunar period 1:44–3:44 am today's activity: medium
Today in Potomac Heights there are high tides at 9:47 am (1.9 ft) and 10:01 pm (2.3 ft) and low tides at 3:27 am and 3:16 pm. Tide coefficient 80. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 4:20 am. The sun rises at 7:31 am and sets at 6:13 pm: 10 h 42 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:51 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:44 am to 3:44 am and from 2:15 pm to 4:15 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. There's a light breeze from the east (4 mph). Clear, 53 °F.
Fishing in Potomac Heights today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 3:16 pm
- Major period 2:15–4:15 pm
- Steady pressure (30.36 inHg) and almost no wind
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 80 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 2:20 pm to 4:20 pm, combines the 3:16 pm low tide and a major period. Also good from 10:10 am to 10:50 am, with the 9:47 am high tide and moonset. Also worth a try from 2:30 am to 3:40 am, with the 3:27 am low tide and a major period, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: striped bass, spot, Atlantic croaker and summer flounder. October is one of the months when these are seen most: spot and summer flounder. What you can catch
Tides in Potomac Heights
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 3:27 am 0.2 ft
- ▲ High tide 9:47 am 1.9 ft · coef. 80
- ▼ Low tide 3:16 pm 0.2 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:01 pm 2.3 ft · coef. 78
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 4 h 25 min to low tide at 4:20 am.
Tide coefficient 80 for the 9:47 am high tide and 78 for the 10:01 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 2.1 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: an average 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 May 17 (2.4 ft) and the lowest, on February 3 (-0.4 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
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 9 to 11 (coefficient 83, 2.1 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 20 (coefficient 53, 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, Wed 28 | 7:31 am · 6:13 pm | Low tide 3:27 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 9:47 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 3:16 pm · 0.2 ft | High tide 10:01 pm · 2.3 ft | Coef. 80 | 91% | Major periods 1:44 am · 2:15 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:32 am · 6:12 pm | Low tide 4:20 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 10:37 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 4:11 pm · 0.2 ft | High tide 10:52 pm · 2.2 ft | Coef. 76 | 84% | Major periods 2:48 am · 3:20 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:33 am · 6:11 pm | Low tide 5:16 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 11:33 am · 1.8 ft | Low tide 5:10 pm · 0.3 ft | High tide 11:49 pm · 2.1 ft | Coef. 72 | 74% | Major periods 3:52 am · 4:24 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:34 am · 6:10 pm | Low tide 6:12 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 12:35 pm · 1.8 ft | Low tide 6:13 pm · 0.3 ft | — | Coef. 68 | 63% | Major periods 4:54 am · 5:24 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:35 am · 5:08 pm | High tide 12:51 am · 2.0 ft | Low tide 6:09 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 12:39 pm · 1.8 ft | Low tide 6:18 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 66 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:52 am · 5:19 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:36 am · 5:07 pm | High tide 12:58 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 7:08 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 1:46 pm · 1.8 ft | Low tide 7:27 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 64 | 41% | Major periods 5:45 am · 6:10 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:38 am · 5:06 pm | High tide 2:10 am · 1.9 ft | Low tide 8:07 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 2:55 pm · 1.8 ft | Low tide 8:33 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 64 | 30% | Major periods 6:34 am · 6:57 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 Indian Head station (NOAA), 2.4 mi from Potomac Heights. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Washington reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Potomac Heights
Sea state
The wave model doesn't reach Potomac Heights: it's on inland water (an estuary, sound or sheltered bay) or far from the open sea. Wind is still available right here.
Wind on the coast and offshore
The model doesn't separate offshore wind here: it's the same as on the coast.
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces northwest and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 11:56 pm (local time).
Nearest marine station
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station WASD2, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Weather in Potomac Heights
Now in Potomac Heights
- Low / high
- 49 / 68 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 11%
- Humidity
- 82%
- Dew pointDew point
- 47 °F
- Visibility
- 11 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Moderate · 60
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling · now Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Falling now (−0.04 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Falling pressure: anglers say fish feed more before the change. 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 | Clear | Clear | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Mainly clear | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear |
| Temperature | 53° | 54° | 51° | 53° | 64° | 67° | 63° | 57° |
| Wind (mph) | 2 E | 0 NW | 4 NW | 2 N | 2 NE | 2 SE | 2 ESE | 7 SE |
| Gusts | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 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 |
- 12:00 am 53° 4 E
- 3:00 am 50° 3 SE
- 6:00 am 49° 1 S
- 9:00 am 53° 3 SW
- 12:00 pm 63° 5 SW
- 3:00 pm 70° 6 SW
- 6:00 pm 67° 4 S
- 9:00 pm 60° 5 S
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 49 / 68 °F | 7 mph ESE | 9:47 am · 10:01 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 49 / 71 °F | 6 mph SSW | 10:37 am · 10:52 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 55 / 71 °F | 11 mph NW | 11:33 am · 11:49 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 51 / 63 °F | 9 mph N | 12:35 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 51 / 66 °F | 5 mph SSE | 12:51 am · 12:39 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 53 / 67 °F | 4 mph SSE | 12:58 am · 1:46 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 55 / 69 °F | 9 mph ESE | 2:10 am · 2:55 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 58 / 69 °F | 10 mph ESE | 3:21 am · 3:57 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 60 / 69 °F | 9 mph SE | 4:22 am · 4:50 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 57 / 65 °F | 8 mph N | 5:15 am · 5:39 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 53 / 62 °F | 9 mph NW | 6:03 am · 6:24 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 42 / 61 °F | 8 mph NW | 6:49 am · 7:06 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 35 / 58 °F | 7 mph N | 7:33 am · 7:46 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 35 / 60 °F | 5 mph N | 8:15 am · 8:23 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 49° / 71° 6 mph
- Fri 30 Mainly clear 55° / 71° 11 mph
- Sat 31 Overcast 51° / 63° 9 mph
- Sun 1 Overcast 51° / 66° 5 mph
- Mon 2 Partly cloudy 53° / 67° 4 mph
- Tue 3 Partly cloudy 55° / 69° 9 mph
- Wed 4 Clear sky 58° / 69° 10 mph
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, warmer than normal for late October (+2.7 °F; normal high: 65 °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 11:56 pm (local time).
The sun in Potomac Heights
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:33 am
- Full dark 7:12 pm
- Civil dawn 7:04 am
- Civil dusk 6:40 pm
- Solar noon 12:52 pm (38° high)
- Daylight 10 h 42 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:36 pm
- Full dark 7:12 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,354,627 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Potomac Heights
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,429 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:44–3:44 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:15–4:15 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:07–11:07 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:21–8:21 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 · 3:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 6:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 9:54 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 Potomac Heights
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Fishing pier 8.3 mi
- COL Joseph G. Swift Pier 4.8 mi
- Jetty 2.7 mi
- Fisherman's Point 5.4 mi
- Boat ramp 1.7 mi
- Boat ramp 4.3 mi
- Boat ramp 4.8 mi
- Pohick Bay Regional Park Marina 4.8 mi
- Belmont Bay Harbor Marina 6.0 mi
- Harbor View Marina 6.0 mi
- K&m Outfitters 8.6 mi
- Fuel dock 6.4 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 120 ft from shore.
From the shoreline (600 ft from Potomac Heights) out to sea, heading northwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep60 ft
- 33 ft deep120 ft
- 66 ft deepnot within 2 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 2 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 60 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 120 ft from shore; 66 ft is far out (beyond 2 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) 2 mi out. Right by the shore the bottom may drop even faster than shown.
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 Potomac HeightsTides nearby
- Indian Head1.1 mi
- Woodbridge6.8 mi
- Cherry Hill7.3 mi
- Fort Washington9.3 mi
- Quantico10 mi
- National Harbor14 mi
- Alexandria14 mi
- Widewater Beach17 mi
- Dahlgren20 mi
- Fairview Beach20 mi
Potomac Heights at a glance
- Town or city of about 1,117 people. Coordinates: 38.609° N, 77.141° W.
- It is 43 mi southwest of Annapolis, the main place in Maryland. The sun rises 2 min later and sets 3 min later than in Annapolis.
- The nearest tide station, Indian Head, is 2.4 mi to the west.
- Its coast faces northwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Mattinglys Wharf (historical) (1.7 mi), Proctors Wharf (2.7 mi), Grinders Wharf (3.8 mi).
Questions about Potomac HeightsQuestions
What time is high tide today in Potomac Heights?
Today in Potomac Heights there are high tides at 9:47 am (1.9 ft) and 10:01 pm (2.3 ft) and low tides at 3:27 am and 3:16 pm. Tide coefficient 80.
What time is sunset today in Potomac Heights?
At 6:13 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:40 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Potomac Heights?
At 7:32 am. First light comes at 6:34 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 am.
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 1:44–3:44 am, Minor 10:07–11:07 am, Major 2:15–4:15 pm, Minor 7:21–8:21 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Potomac Heights?
Overcast, from 49 °F to 68 °F, with a light breeze from the east (4 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
When is the best time to visit Potomac Heights?
The best time to visit Potomac Heights is from August to October and from May to June: highs of 69 °F to 87 °F, about 9 rainy days a month and 6 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 Indian Head (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).